The San Antonio Spurs are gearing up for the NBA Draft, and with a week to go, the front office is busy hosting potential prospects for workouts. The team has four picks in the draft: #20, #35, #42, and #44, and they're looking to add young talent to their roster. While the Spurs have been quiet on the trade front, they've been busy evaluating players who could fit their needs. Here's a look at some of the prospects who have worked out for the Spurs, along with my personal thoughts and analysis.
The Big Men
Allen Graves
Graves is a 6'8" power forward/center who had a productive freshman season at Santa Clara. He's a big forward with excellent defensive instincts and a shooting touch from three. Personally, I think Graves is a great fit for the Spurs, as they need a player who can defend, pass, and shoot. However, he lacks the physicality and rebounding ability that Victor Wembanyama's ideal front-court partner would bring. In my opinion, Graves could be a solid stretch big for the Spurs, but he might not be a high-level contributor in year one.
Chris Cenac Jr.
Cenac Jr. is a 6'10" power forward/center who was a highly regarded high-school prospect. He's a project big man with high defensive potential, but his freshman season at Houston didn't go as planned. What makes this particularly fascinating is that Cenac Jr. could be an ideal fit alongside Wembanyama, with his athleticism and rebounding ability. However, he's a long shot to be a high-level contributor in year one. From my perspective, the Spurs are taking a chance on his upside, and if he pans out, he could be a lockdown defender who shoots the ball from three.
Tariss Reed
Reed Jr. is a 6'10" power forward/center who thrives on contact and physicality. He's a bruising big man with good footwork and a great touch around the basket. Reed Jr. is a strong bet to physically play and compete on the glass in his first season, but don't expect him to be a dominant offensive player. In my opinion, the Spurs could take a flyer on Reed Jr. in the second round to add front-court depth and physicality, but he might not provide much in terms of floor spacing.
The Wing Players
Zuby Ejiofor
Ejiofor is a 6'8" power forward who is a versatile defender with a high motor and a strong physique. He's a fun bet for the Spurs, as they need more physical defenders in their front court. However, his offensive role in the NBA is questionable, as he was used mostly as a post scorer and playmaker at St. John's. What many people don't realize is that Ejiofor could be a solid enforcer next to Wembanyama, but his jump shot is still developing.
Alex Karaban
Karaban is a 6'7" wing who has been linked to the Spurs for the last three draft cycles. He's a proven shooter who shot over 37% from three in his four seasons at UConn. Karaban is a dream of an off-ball player who thrives on movement and hitting threes. However, he's not a lockdown wing defender or a great playmaker. In my opinion, Karaban is a valuable player in the NBA, and the Spurs could use more wing shooters. While he might not have an immediate spot in the rotation, he could add great depth and be a contributor in the near future.
The Guards
Michael Ajayi
Ajayi is a 6'7" small forward/power forward who defended well in college. He's got a high motor on both ends, but doesn't shoot the ball well enough as an undersized player. The Spurs could take a flyer on Ajayi in the Summer League, but he's not a perfect fit for their needs.
MJ Collins
Collins is a 6'3" guard who can fill it up as a scoring guard, but his 1.6 assists for a smaller guard who isn't a great defender puts him in a niche that typically doesn't make it in the NBA. The Spurs could target Collins in the Summer League, but he's not a perfect fit for their needs.
Tre Donaldson
Donaldson is a 6'3" guard who had a reputation as a defensive guard until his senior season at Miami. He's likely to go undrafted, but the Spurs could give him a look as an undrafted free agent. Donaldson had a great offensive season, and his size and scoring questions might be overlooked.
The Two-Way Players
Felix Okpara
Okpara is a 6'10" center who has an NBA body, is extremely athletic, and defends with a motor. He's a solid two-way player who typically finds a spot in the league. However, his offensive output is limited, as he projects as mainly a rim runner at the next level. The Spurs have been lacking a solid two-way big man since Dominick Barlow, and Okpara could give them some solid tools to develop.
The Stretch Four
Wyatt Fricks
Fricks is a 6'9" power forward who looks like a stretch four who hit a good number of threes at the Portsmouth Invitational. He could be someone the Spurs look at for a Summer League invite, but there's not much information available on him.
The Undrafted Flyers
Barry Dunning Jr.
Dunning Jr. is a 6'6" wing who is a former Alabama high-school star turned college basketball journeyman. He's got good size and athleticism, and has intriguing pedigree for a potentially undrafted player. The Spurs could take a flyer on Dunning Jr., but he's not a perfect fit for their needs.
William Kyle III
Kyle III is a 6'9" forward who put up impressive numbers in his senior season at Syracuse. He's a pogo stick on the basketball court, with some out-of-this-world jumps. The Spurs could take a flyer on Kyle III, but he's not a perfect fit for their needs.
Robert McCray V
McCray is a 6'4" guard with a lot of burst and athleticism. He passed the ball well in his senior season at FSU, and is another undrafted flyer. The Spurs could target McCray in the Summer League, but he's not a perfect fit for their needs.
In conclusion, the Spurs have a lot of options in the NBA Draft, and they're taking a chance on players with upside. While some of these prospects might not be perfect fits, they could add depth and talent to the team. The Spurs are gearing up for a busy week of workouts and evaluations, and with a week to go, they're in a great position to add young players who can help them win a championship in the future.
