The San Antonio Spurs have begun their rebuild following their dynasty era that produced five championships since Greg Popovich took over as coach. The 22-year streak of making the playoffs was snapped and the Spurs have been on the outside looking in for the past three years. San Antonio has begun to retool quickly and is not far off from contending. Their young nucleus had a record of 34-48 last season which left plenty to build off.
The focus has shifted to this season as the Spurs look to get closer to their goals of contending. San Antonio has a great chance to revitalize their roster as they have three first-round picks as well as the 38th pick in the second round. While most of the focus will fall on the 9th pick, the franchise must capitalize on each selection. Their third first-round pick will be at the 25th selection and here are some targets to keep an eye on.
Likely the top international prospect in the draft, Nikola Jovic has a very intriguing skillset. The 6’10” forward is a capable ball-handler who can initiate the offense himself. His handle allows him to get into the lane and score efficiently despite his lack of athleticism. He also cuts effectively off the ball and is a solid perimeter defender.
Jovic’s lack of verticality and athleticism is a concern at the NBA level. He likely will be best defensively with a shot-blocker behind him. He is a guy that can do a little bit of everything including rebounding, passing, and spacing the floor. The Serbian is an interesting prospect but someone who could make a major impact in the Spurs system.
Jalen Williams – SG Santa Clara
Likely due to the small school he played for, Jalen Williams does not have as much draft buzz as he deserves. The 6’6″ guard improved in all three seasons and averaged 18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. He showed improved three-point shooting and connected on 39.6% of his attempts this season. Williams has winning habits in his game and is likely more regarded around NBA circles than the general public.
He has all the tools to be an elite defender in the NBA including his 7’2″ wing span. Length and wingspan have become a point of focus for recent Spurs draft picks and the Santa Clara product checks this box. Williams has a solid handle and is a capable isolation scorer. He plays with his head up and has a good feel for making the right reads, especially in transition. The level of competition is somewhat of a concern, but Williams projects as a solid long-term NBA prospect.
EJ Liddell – SF/PF Ohio State
A three-year forward at Ohio State, EJ Liddell showed notable improvement each year. This past season Liddell averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He also took a notable leap in his rim protection, averaging 2.6 blocks which is more than double his previous career-high. Liddell increased his three-point percentage to 37.4% which improved his NBA chances greatly.
While he will need to become more perimeter-oriented at the next level, Liddell has the makings of a great modern-day power forward. He has great size and power and is versatile defensively. PJ Tucker is a guy who he should look to further model his game after. The Ohio State product is set to be a reliable rotational piece with a ceiling much higher than this. Liddell is a high-IQ player who would benefit greatly from Coach Popovich.
As much as this draft has been talked about being so top-heavy, there are a number of intriguing rotational pieces later on. The Spurs will likely target a higher impact player with the ninth pick but have a chance to grab a valuable glue guy to help complete the roster. San Antonio is closer to contending than it is being recognized and they have a chance to complete their young core in this year’s draft.