San Antonio Spurs Draft Review

Current Roster
PG: Tony Parker*/DeJounte Murray
SG: Danny Green/Derrick White/Bryn Forbes
SF: Kawhi Leonard/Kyle Anderson/Jaron Blossomgame
PF: LeMarcus Aldridge/Davis Bertans
C: -
*When Healthy

2017 Free Agents 
Unrestricted
C Pau Gasol
G Manu Ginobili
G Patty Mills
C Dewayne Dedmon
C Joel Anthony
C David Lee (player option)

Restricted
G Jonathon Simmons

Who They Drafted 
1-29 Derrick White PG/SG, Colorado
2-59 Jaron Blossomgame, SF/PF Clemson
At the end of the first round, the Spurs drafted Derrick White, a Division II transfer who played one season at Colorado before heading into the NBA. White is an all around contributor that has a chance to be a really quality rotation player, due to all he can do. Able to score from all over the floor, White isn't a transcendent athlete, but he uses his shiftiness and change of speed style to break down defenses and again, though not a huge leaper he finishes well because of his craft and toughness. His jumper is quick and he can score off the catch or dribble and is good at pulling up from the midrange. While more of a combo guard than pure point, White is a capable playmaker who is very patient when running the offense, taking his time to make the correct pass. Defensively, White doesn't have huge upside due to his good not great physical tools. However, he finds ways to make plays defensively (1.5 steals, 1.8 blocks per 40) and could definitely be above-average with time. White might not have a massive ceiling, but his style of play is so suited to the modern game and he is versatile enough to play both guard spots that he should stick around for a long time and perhaps reach the levels of another former Spurs guard, George Hill. White will probably play a similar role to what Hill did for the Spurs, playing both guard positions and provide energy, shooting, and defense off the bench. White also pairs well with Dejounte Murray, the Spurs presumed backcourt of the future, because Murray is all athleticism and attack while White is a more steady, well-rounded player.
The second to last pick in the draft is highly likely to turn into nothing at all, but the Spurs have that magic touch... and the player they picked, Jaron Blossomgame, is the type of player they just might do something with. Already 24, Blossomgame is very old for a prospect and probably doesn't have much left in the way of development, which is a problem because while he brings a lot to the table, he has one major flaw they might hold him back. A super explosive combo forward with more small forward's body, Blossomgame plays with a ton of energy, getting out in transition, attacking the glass, and slashing to the rim in a straight line. It is easy to see him becoming a very good defensive player and a plus on the glass and in transition, however his slashing game seems unlikely to translate due to the fact that he can't shoot consistently, which means defenders can play way off him, which not only makes drives more difficult but messes with the space for the other players on the floor. Blossomgame will likely spend a lot of time in the G-League, where he should focus on his shooting and handle, which is what he'd need to improve to be a contributor. Could he become an Andre Roberson or even fellow Spur Jonathon Simmons? Sure, but at 24 (a year and a half younger than fourth year NBA vet Roberson) the odds are slim.

What They Need Going Forward
With a ton of free agents, particularly at center, the Spurs will have a chance to add a big name free agent before bringing back Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, and Simmons. Point guard is the obvious area they could upgrade, as Murray and White are mostly unproven and Tony Parker is injured. They were reportedly in on Chris Paul, who ended up on their rival Rockets, but Kyle Lowry, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague, or George Hill are possible options that would really improve their outlook, even for a team that won 61 games last season.

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2015 Draft Preview: San Antonio Spurs

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Tony Parker/Patty Mills

SG: Reggie Williams

SF: Kyle Anderson

PF: Boris Diaw

C: Tiago Splitter

2015 Free Agents

PF Aron Baynes (RFA)

PG Cory Joseph (RFA)

SF Kawhi Leonard (RFA)

PF Jeff Ayres

SG Marco Belinelli

PF Matt Bonner

F/C Tim Duncan

SG Manu Ginobili

SG Danny Green

2015 Draft Picks

1-26

2-25(55)

Team Needs

The Spurs will keep Spurs-ing along, likely bringing back at least Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and a couple other role players. The biggest question this offseason really is what happens with Danny Green. Green is a very valuable player for San Antonio  but he will likely get big offers in the off-season from teams with cap space which the Spurs won't want to match is Green willing to take less to stay in a perfect situation? Other Spurs have in the past, but not on their first big payday. If Green does depart, it will leave a hole at shooting guard that will need to be replaced with another 3-and-D player. Besides that, San Antonio is always planning for the future with players that fit their system and can step up when called upon.

Potential Fits

If the Spurs are looking to replace Danny Green, their are two main options likely to be there when they draft: Virgina's Justin Anderson and Stanford's Anthony Brown. Anderson can guard both forward and wings with potential to be very disruptive due to his size and athletic ability, but has only one season of shooting at a high level and inconsistent mechanics. Brown doesn't have as much defensive upside or versatility as Anderson, but he is solid all around on that end and can really shoot the ball. Anderson is younger and has a higher upside, and I believe in the Spurs ability to get the most out of players. The most out of Anderson is greater than the most out of Brown. Utah guard Delon Wright wouldn't be a Green replacement but he is a Spurs-type player that defends at a high level, rebounds, and can create off the dribble. If, and it is a big if, UNLV's Christian Wood unexpectedly falls, I wouldn't be surprised to see San Antonio take him as a potential Duncan replacement down the road.

Mock Draft 

26. Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia

55. Guillermo Hernangomez, C, Sevilla

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Tank You Very Much: Potential Sixers Trades

It was common knowledge that this was going to be a massive rebuilding season for Philadelphia, starting with the trade of Jrue Holiday, that would set them up for a shot at a top 3 pick in a loaded 2014 draft. After a 3-0 start, it has been suggested that they might need to trade their 3 vets, Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young, and Evan Turner in an attempt to lock up a top pick. They are probably bad enough without doing that, but Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, and picks are the only un-tradeable things in Philadelphia, so if they can acquire assets or young pieces for these three useful veterans, they should do it....

Spencer Hawes to the Los Angeles Clippers for Reggie Bullock

The Clippers will have to include a number of small contracts to make this deal work, but the crux of the deal is Hawes for Bullock. The Clippers have championship aspirations, but a big problem with depth at the center position. There are also questions about whether DeAndre Jordan can play in cruch time due to his abysmal foul shooting and limited offensive game. Hawes won't be an upgrade defensively, but he is a much better offensive player and basically a wash as a rebounder. Hawes is a very good midrange shooter, who at least so far this season is 6-12 through three games this season, while also being a very good passer. As a backup center and floor spacer who can close out games for the Clippers, Hawes would be perfect. As a bonus he is an expiring contract that won't lock them up long term. As an added bonus Byron Mullens wouldn never have to play an important minute for them ever again. For the Sixers the goal is to get worse this season and acquire long-term talent or assets, both of which they would accomplish with this trade. Bullock, the 25th overall pick in the 2013 draft won't have a role on the team the Clippers year, not with Jared Dudley and J.J. Redick on the roster, but has some nice potential as a three-and-D wing, which would fit well next to Carter-Williams, Noel, and whoever they get in the draft (Wiggins, Randle, Parker) with that skill-set. The Clippers also have their 2014 first round pick to include in the deal. Another possibility would be a three team trade that sent Dudley to another team (say, the Pelicans) with a youn asset or two heading to Philly (say, Austin Rivers). In this case the Clippers get Hawes and Bullock steps into Dudley's minutes. 

Thaddeus Young to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Kendrick Perkins

While it is starting to become clear that he Thunder are going to stubbornly hold on to Kendrick Perkins, they could still try to deal him to a tanking team. With Steven Adams playing well so far, plus the ability to play Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka at center, and Hasheem Thabeet able to fill in at least an average level, the Thunder won't be hurt at center by losing Perkins, but would get a huge upgrade on offense and another scorer to balance out their offense even more. Young is a layup machine who can also more than hold his own defensively at both forward spots. He can play alongside Durant at the 4 or in place of him at the 3 and be a sixth man or a starter, a more effective version of what they hoped Jeff Green would be. The Sixers would be getting $8 million off the books a year earlier (Perkins has 2 years remaining, Young 3) and a strong locker room presence, but little on court value, which would suit them fine as they tank. The Thunder can also sweeten the deal with the like of Perry Jones, Andre Roberson, Grant Jerrett's rights, or the rights to German big man Tibor Pleiss or Spainish guard Alex Abrines. The Thunder will have to see what they can do with their current lineup, but acquiring Young at the expense of only Perkins would be a huge boost for them. 

  

Evan Turner to the San Antonio Spurs for Matt Bonner, Nando de Colo, and the rights to Davis Bertans
This is a very un-Spurs-like move, but it is fun to speculate about, and could actually be a need, as well as a piece for their future. Whether the Spurs are in the market for a wing will depend on if Marco Belinelli pans out or not, so far, so good but he a track record of inconsistency. Turner is the superior talent who is finally playing up to his draft status, and does a number things that the Spurs would like: he competes defensively, is a high IQ player, a good passer and rebounder. Most importantly however, Turner can hit corner threes (38% last season) and make plays, which will help ease the burden on Manu Ginobili. Despite his rep as a shooter, Belinelli was actually terrible from the corners last season (27%), and pales in comparison to Turner in the playmaking department (21.0 assist ratio to Belinelli's 16.2). This is a very unlikely scenario, but if the Spurs think Turner could help them return to the title game, or be a part of their post-Big 3 rebuild, then dealing for him is something they would have to explore. Bonner and de Colo could be replaced with a number of different contracts, but since they are both expiring contracts, they work the best in the deal. The prize for the Sixers is Bertans, a sharp-shooting 20-year old Latvian forward who was drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft. The Spurs also have a number of other prospects (Livio Jean-Charles, Ryan Richards) and picks they could use in a deal.

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