You have a better chance of winning the jackpot lottery than guessing the four picks the San Antonio Spurs will make in the June 23 2022 NBA draft. This is a front office that has been unpredictable for years.
But ESPN decided to give it a shot anyway, releasing the Spurs’ “perfect” draft proposal on Friday. San Antonio has three first-round picks and a second-round pick ranked 38th overall. With so many draft opportunities, the Spurs can position themselves for future success in a way they haven’t since drafted Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in 1997.
Here are ESPN’s draft projections for the Spurs:
No. 9 – Jalen Duren, C, Memphis
Durham was predicted multiple times for the Spurs before the draft. At 18, he will be the youngest U.S. player to be drafted this year — a youthful trend after the Spurs selected Canadian-born Alabama guard Josh Primo with the 12th overall pick last year. may continue.
Durham’s excellent rim protection is exactly what the Spurs need. While starting center Jakob Poeltl has excelled in the paint as a shot-blocker and breaker, his limited use of space and poor athleticism can at times minimize the offense’s ability.
Durham hasn’t quite solved the spacing issue, but his athleticism is arguably the best of any rookie this cycle. He’ll likely be at No. 9, and the Spurs would be a great pick, hopefully one day he’ll be a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
20 – Tarry Eason, F, LSU
Catching Ethan and Durham with back-to-back picks is a Spurs dream scenario. Eason’s athleticism and huge stretch potential make him an interesting development player who can already make an impact as a rookie.
While he doesn’t have the defensive ceiling of Durham’s, he’s fully capable of developing into an elite guard. That value skyrockets when viewing his offensive potential as a dangling threat that can knock down jumpers when given space.
Last season, Eason was the Tigers’ backup sixth man, but still led the team in points (16.9), blocks (1.1) and field goal percentage (52.1). The 6-foot-8, 216-pound Los Angeles native has a clear eye for scoring inside. He also proved he can be a respectable shooter after hitting 28 3-pointers last season.
Also promising was Eason’s 80.3 attempts from the free throw line, a team-high 188 attempts. Once he solidifies himself in an NBA lineup, the offense to the rim will get solid performance from the free throw line.
No. 25 – Jaden Hardy, G, G League Ignite
The Spurs will likely take on Hardy at 25 because the idea is that he’ll be a constant presence in the Austin Spurs’ G League over the next few seasons, which is what he did in the last season. The familiar location league ignites after the season spent with the G team.
Hardy is a gifted offensive talent with tremendous potential as an elite NBA scorer. But at a draft age of 19, he’s still a raw prospect who needs time to adjust.
Despite averaging an impressive 21.2 points per game with Ignite last season, Hardy averaged 19.4 attempts and 3.2 turnovers per game. He’s the team’s primary scoring option, so his turnover numbers are understandable. A few years of development under a Spurs G-League coach can do wonders for Hardy, as it has done with guards like Dejounte Murray, Josh Primo and Lonnie Walker IV in the past.
No. 38 – Khalifa Diop, Center, Gran Canaria
At this point in the second round, picking Diop will be a major value pick. At 7-foot-0 and 250 pounds, the Senegalese is an energetic big man who could complement Eason and Duren’s options well. ESPN’s taunt called him “an extremely mobile big man who plays with extreme intensity in the game, is one of the most versatile defenders at this draft level, and still can spin fluidly into the paint, Meet opponents at the top and protect the rim.”
Last season at Gran Canaria, the 20-year-old averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game while shooting 63.6 percent from the field. A strong paint presence, Diop sees almost all his eyes as a bowler or lob threat at the dunker position, which results in his shooting efficiency.
No matter where Diop lands, he’ll likely develop a year or two in the league, but his potential makes him nearly a pick in this year’s draft.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @zackdemeter7
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