Thon Maker Expected To Workout With Spurs

With the NBA Draft fast approaching, teams are already inviting players for workouts. For the San Antonio Spurs, they are expected to workout Thon Maker in the coming weeks according to Jabari Young of the Express-News.

Maker, 19, is expected to come in for a workout with the team. Once touted as a lottery lock, Maker’s capricious stock has now fallen enough so that the Spurs, picking 29th, are within range. He’s legit 7-footer with a huge frame who plays the game with energy and shows an intriguing combination of ball skills and ability to run the floor. He also shows signs of being able to stretch the floor, and can make shots off the catch and has range out to the high school three-point line.

More from Spurs News

• Spurs show remarkable poise against Bulls, unlike many fans
• Devin Vassell is the latest in the Spurs’ collection of silent assassins
• San Antonio Spurs: 5 Players to avoid in any LaMarcus Aldridge deal
• Is Gregg Popovich hiding Luka Samanic as a secret weapon?
• San Antonio Spurs News: More DeRozan trade talk from Chris Haynes

Scouts have raved about this kid and his skills show why. He is very competitive despite lacking strength, he does not shy away from contact and does have the ability to keep possessions alive as a rebounder. He also can cover space on the defensive end as well.

Barring any cancellations, Thon Maker expected to workout with #Spurs in the next week or so pic.twitter.com/ZjWkef4iYx

— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) June 7, 2016

With solid length and reach, he has the ability to effect shots around the basket. He’s a good weak side shot blocker and displays timing to block shots. What also is intriguing about Maker is he has impressive ability to handle the ball in open space for his size, though that may not be utilized much at the next level.

You look at him first hand and can see that maybe his build is not NBA ready, but with the right strength and conditioning team in the NBA, he can surely make an impact at the start for an NBA team. With all the strengths he possess, there definitely are some weaknesses as well. Many have stated that he easily gets knocked off balance, and has had a lot of trouble establishing himself in the post against stronger defenders. Lateral quickness is not to the point that he can defend NBA wing players, squashing any notion that he can be a 3. Reaction time to plays on both ends can be slow at times,and he will bobble passes and let his man get behind him more often than you would like to see.

The Spurs have shown what they can do with talent, but R.C. Buford would have to think if pulling the trigger and selecting a player with no college experience would be worth the gamble.

Next: Thon Maker An Intriguing Prospect For San Antonio