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San Antonio Spurs: ESPN projects Melvin Frazier in 2018 NBA Draft

By Rob Wolkenbrod

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 03: Melvin Frazier #35 of the Tulane Green Wave against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 3, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 97-73. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 03: Melvin Frazier #35 of the Tulane Green Wave against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 3, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 97-73. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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In ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft, the San Antonio Spurs took Melvin Frazier.

With about four months before the 2018 NBA Draft, big boards and mock drafts will start to arise. it’s to project where the highest-ranked collegiate prospects will go at the top, along with everyone else that fills out Round 1 and 2. This goes for the San Antonio Spurs, even though they have not selected above No. 20 since 1997.

On Monday, ESPN.com released its latest 2018 NBA Mock Draft, with a selection for picks 1-30. The top 10 looked like this:

  1. Phoenix Suns: Luka Doncic
  2. Atlanta Hawks: Deandre Ayton
  3. Sacramento Kings: Mohamed Bamba
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets): Jaren Jackson Jr.
  5. Orlando Magic: Marvin Bagley III
  6. Chicago Bulls: Michael Porter Jr.
  7. Memphis Grizzlies: Trae Young
  8. Dallas Mavericks: Wendell Carter Jr.
  9. New York Knicks: Collin Sexton
  10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers): Mikal Bridges

As for the Spurs, ESPN gave them small forward Melvin Frazier, a junior from Tulane, at No. 24 overall. He was one of few upperclassmen to be in the first round.

“A significant part of San Antonio’s wing rotation is up for free agency this summer, meaning this could very well be a position the Spurs look to address in the draft. Frazier’s stock has been moving in the right direction during a very impressive junior season at Tulane. He’s a tremendous athlete, standing 6-foot-6 with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, and he’s making 39 percent of his 3-pointers this season.”

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This indeed helps the Spurs at the wing position. Rudy Gay and Danny Green, if they opt out of their 2018-19 contracts, will leave a significant hole on the roster. Couple it with Kyle Anderson’s impending restricted free agency, and it may leave the Silver and Black without three players at one spot.

Through 25 games in the 2017-18 college basketball season, Frazier averaged 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.3 steals on 57.4 percent shooting and 38.5 percent from 3-point range. These stats all remain career-highs for the Avondale, LA native.

There’s plenty of time before the June draft to dissect the situation and if the Spurs will even stick at No. 24. The standings will fluctuate and so will the stock of the available players.

Next: Way-too-early options for 2018 NBA Draft

Who should San Antonio select in the 2018 NBA Draft? Where will they place in the order?

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