Welcome to day 23 of Draftmas brought to you by The Game Haus. Today it is time to bring you the San Antonio Spurs 2017 NBA Draft profile.
Summary
Gregg Popovich is the best coach in the NBA and with Pop at the helm, the Spurs are a lock to win 50 games or more. The Spurs are a lock to win 50 games is because Pop won more than 50 games in 19 of his 21 seasons. The only two seasons in which he didn’t were his first year as a head coach and the second was in a shortened lockout season where the Spurs still went 37-13.
This season, the Spurs finished 61-21 to earn the second seed in the West. They beat the Grizzlies 4-2 in the first round. San Antonio then beat the Rockets 4-2 to reach the Conference Finals where they ran into the eventual NBA Champion Warriors. San Antonio was swept but only because Kawhi went down with an injury. The Spurs were leading 78-55 in Game 1 when Kawhi went down.
San Antonio was a middle of the pack team scoring the basketball averaging 105.3 points per game, ranking them 14th in the NBA. They shot 46.9 percent from the field and an NBA-best 39.1 percent from behind the arc. Rebounding was another positive part of the team for the Spurs this season as they ranked 11th in the NBA averaging 43.9 per game.
The Spurs were the second best defensive team in the NBA this season giving up only 98.1 points per game. Opponents only shot 44.3 percent against San Antonio.
The Spurs are a well-oiled machine that play fundamental team basketball. Their organization does a great job in acquiring the right players for that system. If the Spurs want to get past the Warriors they will need to acquire more of that talent this offseason.
Picks & Needs
First Round: No. 29
Second Round: No. 59
The Spurs do need to remodel the team slightly and continue to build around Kawhi Leonard. Tim Duncan retired last year, Manu Ginobili will be 40 in July and Tony Parker is a shell of himself as he is 35 years old as well. San Antonio is heading in a new direction and the Spurs need to find the core pieces that will compliment Kawhi Leonard.
The Spurs will be looking to find the next point guard that will help lead the Spurs to more titles. There are rumors that Chris Paul and the Spurs have mutual interest, but that is only a short-term solution. The Spurs should look to find a franchise point guard in the draft.
Another area in which the Spurs need to improve is at the center position. San Antonio is really missing a center who can be a rim protector and rebounder. Pau Gasol is 36 years old and will not be the answer moving forward. LaMarcus Aldridge is really a power forward and hasn’t lived up to the hype.
Going after these two pieces and creating more depth will help the Spurs close the gap between them and the Warriors.
Targets & Thoughts
Pick #29: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
Jarrett Allen is a really good rebounding big man. Allen averaged 2.8 blocks per 100 possessions in college which shows that he is very capable of defending the rim. He isn’t the best passer or free throw shooter but can develop those skills with some coaching from Popovich.
Drafting Allen would give the Spurs a big man capable of playing a key role without needing him to score. It is possible Allen becomes the starting center two to three years down the road.
Pick #59: Frank Mason III, PG, Kansas
Frank Mason is a very underrated player in this year’s draft. Mason averaged 13 points and 4 assists in his four years at Kansas. He may become dangerously close to being undrafted but the potential is there. Mason will be a late steal capable of becoming a star. If the Spurs can develop him the right way he can eventually become a franchise point guard. Anything is possible with a coach like Gregg Popovich.
Conclusion
The San Antonio Spurs are one of the best franchises in all of sports. They know how to draft and build a team with the right players who will fit perfectly into their system. San Antonio will make the right moves that put them in contention for a championship this offseason. To do this they need to find an above average point guard and a center that is capable of rebounding and defending. Gregg Popovich will make sure this team is competitive so Spur fans have nothing to worry about, the team is still going to be one of the best.
Thanks for checking out the San Antonio Spurs 2017 NBA Draft profile and tune in tomorrow for day 24 of NBA Draftmas to see what the New Orleans Pelicans are going to do.
Draftmas Day 21: Toronto Raptors
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