Spurs need to consider picks for the next few years are going to be much lower. In this class I might be open to moving back for a pick 10+ spots lower with say, swaps in 29 and ideally 28 as well. Maybe a bit optimistic, but you never know (remember NO last year).
'27 ATL
Been thinking the same. This will likely be the highest we select for a long time (hopefully tbh). With ATL looking decent this year and set to add another potential top-5 pick to their roster via the Pels, that swap next year is looking pretty meh right now. That's why I think they're more likely to take a younger player this year with more long-term upside, especial with the current rotation mostly set 1-9. Trading down and acquiring another pick or swap would make sense too. Will be interesting to see what they do.
Atlanta is in a really soft part of their schedule r/n. Their finish is not nearly so soft. I’m also betting as good as we are, even next years ATL pick will still be in the play in area, at worst, and will be a large improvement over our now traded 2027 pick.
If the plan is to cycle through role players faster from now on (expect them to leave after their first contract instead of their second, like KJ and Devin), then logic says the drafted player absolutely needs to be as ready as can be to play to maximize those 3 or 4 years of their rookie contract.
But we don't really need anyone for the next two seasons if Champ extends.
More likely they are replacing guys after their (hopefully modest) rookie extensions (we're not talking about Wemby/Castle/Harper here). A guy drafted in the mid round or later who is a bench role player for most of his rookie deal isn't going to command a huge rookie extension, thereby extending how long they can be a contributor.
Yeah, we won't keep all of our role players, but 2026 and 2027 season/playoffs are kind of an audition for them.
Good defender, not elite). Pretty good passer. Solid rebounder. He's your typical glue-guy imo. Does a lot of good things but no elite traits. Great motor and plays with a lot of heart. Switchable defender. Average 3PT shooter though at 34%. He'll need to up his %'s from beyond the arc if he wants to stay on the floor. Solid frame at 6'9 with broad shoulders, but needs to get stronger at only 215 lbs. 6'11 wingspan is okay but nothing special. More an energy guy off the bench type imo.
IMO, my eye test tells me that Haugh is a significantly better defender than Yaxel despite those stats @BatManu20 shared. Time will tell and y’all can bump the thread in a few years.
Is it? I’m not saying it should be ignored. But an example I would look at is Keldon. Keldon hitting big shots is huge, yes. What makes Keldon Keldon for us this year is all the little things that he does that are high impact - the clutch rebound, steal, pass, layup, being basically everywhere. He’s a utility forward, and I think that’s a point of emphasis for the Spurs right now.
I think people underestimate how thin the line is between a rotation player and someone getting no minutes. That line moves all the time. One season a guy looks locked into the rotation, the next season a rookie plays better than expected, someone else takes a step back, or other teams figure out how to defend one of our regulars. Things change fast over a season. God forbid Wemby or Fox get a major injury like most teams experience.
2 guard and a shooting specialist. his % is not very high but i dont think it tells the story. he shoots with legit range, off movement, etc. he tries on D and has adequate length, but nothing standout there. doesnt show much on-ball juice either. doesnt playmake or get to the rim
I would amend your statement to this: if I'm getting somebody that old with that high a pick he damn better be a sure thing and a great fit, and Haugh's shooting puts both in question. With a late first you happily take the gamble, but with a (hopefully) late lottery pick, I'm not quite as sold.
Eh, I’m just of the philosophy that you don’t fuck around and wait for another team to nab a great talent because you wanted to salvage extra assets. What we saw last night from DWhite a lot of teams would kill for.I'm not opposed to drafting an older guy. But I'm not taking one late lottery or even in the teens during a loaded draft tbh.
Your list isn't doing much to dissuade my point tbh:
So just using your list and going by the last 10 years of drafts, that leaves us with the following guys that were drafted in the lottery :
- I'm not counting guys like Admiral, Pippen, Stockton, etc. It's not even worth debating how much different the draft landscape is nowadays compared to 10-15 years ago, let alone 30+ years ago tbh
- A lot of those on your list went late 1st, 2nd round, or undrafted which again proves my point about not spending top end draft capital on older prospects. So let's get rid of those guys as well.
- Knecht and Duarte are NOT high level role players, cmon
Let's throw in Edey as well who was top 10.
- Buddy Hield — Top 10
- Davion Mitchell — Top 10 pick
- Keegan Murray — Top 5 pick
- Kris Dunn — Top 5 pick
- Corey Kispert — 15th pick
- Obi Toppin — Top 10 pick
I mean out of that list, who would you argue isn't a bust relative to their pick? Maybe Edey I guess and even then the jury's out tbh? That's not even taking into consideration the draft quality for those years, which to put it politely, is not as good as the 2026 class.
No thanks on these older prospects with the Hawks swap tbh. If/when the Spurs are back picking late 20s then sure go with the DWhites and SlowMo's of the world again.
