NBA draft gives Spurs ideal answer to their bench struggles

A major worry for the Spurs has reared its head in the Conference Finals against the Thunder. Oklahoma City is dominating the bench scoring battle. San Antonio hasn’t had enough firepower off the pine to match that of Jared McCain, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Jaylin Williams.

The differential between the two teams in that category has been a serious swing factor in the series so far, and it’s clear the Silver and Black will need to address this weakness in the offseason.

One way the Spurs could boost their bench is by drafting Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas with the 20th pick.

Drafting Meleek Thomas would fill a clear need for the Spurs

In a draft class full of impressive lead ball handlers and playmaking guards, Meleek Thomas stands out as one of the best backcourt bucket-getting options, especially in the first round. In his lone season at Arkansas, Thomas averaged 15.6 points on 43.5% from the field and 41.6% from three while oscillating between being a starter and a backup (37 games played, 21 games started in 2025-26).

Thomas’ bread and butter is his three-point shot. He’s a microwave from beyond the arc, a walking heat check who can easily drill shots most players wouldn’t even think to attempt. The freshman made three or more triples in 15 of his 37 games this past season.

His shot diet includes some tough looks, but Thomas makes them at a high rate. According to Hoop Explorer’s play type data, he scored 1.22 points per possession on assisted threes and 1.12 PPP on off-the-dribble threes, both of which rank better than the 90th percentile.

There are more pros to Thomas’ offensive package. He’s confident in the mid-range and can get to the rim as well, giving him ways to beat closeouts when he’s run off the line. The Pittsburgh native is also a solid connector, keeping turnovers way down while making the right extra pass most of the time. He’s a score-first guy for sure, but he’s not an utter black hole.

Thomas’ fiery scoring ability would breathe life into a Spurs bench that needs it. The lack of production San Antonio has gotten from their reserves against OKC has been alarming, making it something that will need to be urgently addressed this summer.

Adding another guard wouldn’t be a problem for San Antonio

It may feel redundant to add yet another guard to this Spurs roster, but Thomas is a much different player than De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. For one, he’s 6’4” with a 6’7” wingspan, making him more of a true shooting guard or even a wing. He also doesn’t need the ball in his hands to succeed, which is less true of Fox and Harper specifically.

Thomas’ knockdown jumper and competitive attitude on defense would allow him to fit in lineups alongside any of San Antonio’s backcourt studs. If Dylan Harper is still a backup next year, he and Thomas would be a very fun duo.

Ultimately, while there are other needs the Spurs could consider in the draft, bringing in Meleek Thomas for an offensive spark would certainly be a smart move.

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