Missing out on a top-3 pick would sting, but fortunately there's a variety of high-level player types from which the Spurs could select along the next tier.
Thanks for the analysis. Great deep dive. Hendricks and Whitmore are extremely compelling if SA drops to #5 or below, even if Whitmore's skill set does seem somewhat duplicative of Keldon's (but with a much higher ceiling).
I do have concerns about taking Walker that high, when he seems more like a connective piece than a top two offensive option. Feels like when drafting that high, getting an alpha is a priority for this team and I'm not sure he's that. I guess one could make a similar argument with Hendricks, though his offensive potential seems more dynamic than Walker's.
I was surprised to see Brandon Miller go mostly unmentioned and I see that you'll be dedicating a separate piece to him. Not to jump the gun, but if the Spurs draft at #4 or lower and he's still around, it's hard to imagine that they could easily bypass him. While he seems like more of a long-term, high-level complementary piece than a first option on offense, it's difficult to ignore his talent, despite the clear off-the-court question marks and the team getting burned on a past 'Bama selection. Do you really think the Spurs might?
If they pick at #4 or lower and he's there but they don't want him, perhaps trading back a pick or two with a team that really loves him and has multiple quality 1st round picks (Orlando, Utah?) might be worth considering. Why waste the potential leverage?
I’m not gonna write a whole piece on Miller, but I will address it. If all things were normal off the court I would’ve grouped him in with the bunch featured in this newsletter though. He’s talented but I’m not as high on him as many are.
These three are interesting cause not only are they a step down in upside from tier 1, but their fit isn’t as clean as the first group either
With Jarace and Hendricks, do you see them and Sochan playing together as your two bigs? Would one of them slide to the three and they play next to a more traditional big, or am I getting too far ahead of myself?
You brought up the Whitmore-Keldon overlap. I think Keldon is about as good of a comp for him as there is, especially body type + athleticism
I’m assuming the guy you haven’t covered yet is Miller. Curious to see if he’s dropping for on or off-court reasons, or both...
Thank you! Honestly unless it’s Wemby or a point guard, the traditional fit is iffy all around. But we have to start taking the “position-less” thing more literally, however unfamiliar it feels.
Because of Sochan’s ball-handling and passing, he could absolutely play with Walker or Hendricks, the latter being an almost perfect complementary piece with his spot ups and rim-running. And considering Sochan’s ability to defend smaller players, and Hendricks’ and Walker’s abilities to do the same on top of defending fours, it could eventually become an incredibly fun defensive lineup to watch.
In ideal scenario we get Wemby and trade for a second first rounder to draft Ausar or someone else the team likes who slips. What would it take to trade into 11-15 range? Bulls and second rounders enough?
I would guess most likely not. It’ll take some assets to move up in this particular draft, because it’s a very good one and next year’s doesn’t look great comparatively at this point.
The Brandon Miller absence I understand, but I’m interested in when Ausar Thompson will get his analysis. Especially since there’s a minority (albeit very small minority) that thinks he may be as good if not better than his brother.
As for these guys, I’m warming myself up a lot to getting any of them. Obviously it’ll be a bummer if they drop out of a top 3 pick but these guys all have qualities that should be adaptable to the team as it stands now. It does make the fit a teeny awkward but I think if this ends up being the case, we may need to prepare for full-time point Sochan.
Thanks for the analysis. Great deep dive. Hendricks and Whitmore are extremely compelling if SA drops to #5 or below, even if Whitmore's skill set does seem somewhat duplicative of Keldon's (but with a much higher ceiling).
I do have concerns about taking Walker that high, when he seems more like a connective piece than a top two offensive option. Feels like when drafting that high, getting an alpha is a priority for this team and I'm not sure he's that. I guess one could make a similar argument with Hendricks, though his offensive potential seems more dynamic than Walker's.
I was surprised to see Brandon Miller go mostly unmentioned and I see that you'll be dedicating a separate piece to him. Not to jump the gun, but if the Spurs draft at #4 or lower and he's still around, it's hard to imagine that they could easily bypass him. While he seems like more of a long-term, high-level complementary piece than a first option on offense, it's difficult to ignore his talent, despite the clear off-the-court question marks and the team getting burned on a past 'Bama selection. Do you really think the Spurs might?
If they pick at #4 or lower and he's there but they don't want him, perhaps trading back a pick or two with a team that really loves him and has multiple quality 1st round picks (Orlando, Utah?) might be worth considering. Why waste the potential leverage?
I guess thoughts will be forthcoming.
I’m not gonna write a whole piece on Miller, but I will address it. If all things were normal off the court I would’ve grouped him in with the bunch featured in this newsletter though. He’s talented but I’m not as high on him as many are.
These breakdowns are terrific, thanks!
These three are interesting cause not only are they a step down in upside from tier 1, but their fit isn’t as clean as the first group either
With Jarace and Hendricks, do you see them and Sochan playing together as your two bigs? Would one of them slide to the three and they play next to a more traditional big, or am I getting too far ahead of myself?
You brought up the Whitmore-Keldon overlap. I think Keldon is about as good of a comp for him as there is, especially body type + athleticism
I’m assuming the guy you haven’t covered yet is Miller. Curious to see if he’s dropping for on or off-court reasons, or both...
Thank you! Honestly unless it’s Wemby or a point guard, the traditional fit is iffy all around. But we have to start taking the “position-less” thing more literally, however unfamiliar it feels.
Because of Sochan’s ball-handling and passing, he could absolutely play with Walker or Hendricks, the latter being an almost perfect complementary piece with his spot ups and rim-running. And considering Sochan’s ability to defend smaller players, and Hendricks’ and Walker’s abilities to do the same on top of defending fours, it could eventually become an incredibly fun defensive lineup to watch.
You assumed correctly.
In ideal scenario we get Wemby and trade for a second first rounder to draft Ausar or someone else the team likes who slips. What would it take to trade into 11-15 range? Bulls and second rounders enough?
I would guess most likely not. It’ll take some assets to move up in this particular draft, because it’s a very good one and next year’s doesn’t look great comparatively at this point.
The Brandon Miller absence I understand, but I’m interested in when Ausar Thompson will get his analysis. Especially since there’s a minority (albeit very small minority) that thinks he may be as good if not better than his brother.
As for these guys, I’m warming myself up a lot to getting any of them. Obviously it’ll be a bummer if they drop out of a top 3 pick but these guys all have qualities that should be adaptable to the team as it stands now. It does make the fit a teeny awkward but I think if this ends up being the case, we may need to prepare for full-time point Sochan.
I’m getting to Ausar! But as you can already tell by the tiers I’ve outlined I’m not as high on him.