3 questions answered about Reed Sheppards potential as Spurs draft choice

The countdown to the draft is on. In less than 30 days, the Spurs will make a decision on what to do with their good fortune. As the only team in the NBA with two top-10 selections, San Antonio is in a position to add significant talent to their young roster. But choosing which prospects will help usher in the reawakening of the Silver and Black alongside Victor Wembanyama is not an exact science. Nothing is guaranteed.

Franchises miss on more draft picks than they hit on. That may be for a myriad of reasons, but that doesn't change reality. Due diligence is all you can expect from the front office tasked with building a contender when gambling is naturally built into the equation, and Reed Sheppard has been one of the answers several scouts have come up with for the Spurs in several mock drafts. There is a good reason for that.

Can Sheppard help on defense?

Reed Sheppard would not be mistaken for Jrue Holiday on the defensive end but few guards are. The Kentucky Wildcat stands at 6'3—an average size for a point guard in the NBA. That will do just fine next to the length the Spurs have been building the rest of the roster with, and when you can filter opponents into an awaiting black hole named Victor Wembanyama, it gives you some wiggle room on the perimeter.

Sheppard averaged 2.5 steals per game last season. So, while he may not stop Anthony Edwards in an iso situation (not many people will), he has shown a willingness to make opportunistic plays on the defense. When players enter the lane only to end up frantically searching for an outlet after being met in the paint by an alien ready to embarrass them for their transgressions, there should be plenty of chances to play the passing lanes, leading to fast break points.

How much would he help the Spurs offense?

The offense is the easy part. Sheppard shot 52% from distance, 56% from the field and 83% from the free throw line. That is efficiency the Spurs badly need in a way words can't possibly express. If the idea is to make teams pay who collapse the paint on Victor Wembanyama, having a sniper as reliable as Reed Sheppard projects to be is more than ideal; it's a necessity.

While his 42-inch vertical may be a bit misleading, he possesses plenty of lift to finish strong around the rim. The Kentucky-born hooper is also willing to stop short and drill the mid-range—a once-lost art that has been making its return recently with the emergence of stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray.

His scoring expertise has been discussed at length but his passing ability should noted as well. He averaged 4.5 assists per game at Kentucky, which is a respectable number. When you watch him play, you see a player who can deliver the ball to the right spot on time. Sheppard is not a supremely gifted passer that you expect to wow you with SportsCenter-worthy dimes, but he can get the ball to Wembanyama, and that's what fans want to see the most.

Should the Spurs spend a pick on Reed Sheppard?

San Antonio has two picks, but some have suggested they shouldn't keep both. There are all-star-caliber guards that the Spurs may be able to obtain if they include one of their top ten picks. Trae Young, Darius Garland and Dejounte Murray are among the most common names floated as potential options. Underrated targets like Anfernee Simons have also been the center of a few conversations.

All possibilities must be considered. As previously mentioned, there are no guarantees when drafting a prospect. There's something to be said for knowing what floor you'll get from a player. All of these potential trade targets are young enough to continue growing. None are finished products.

On the other hand, there is an appeal to drafting a guard so close in age to Victor Wembanyama that you could pair them together for the length of their careers. Because of the attention Wembanyama will continue to draw, Reed Sheppard's value could be immeasurable. Space is at a premium in the NBA these days as defenses continue to try to find creative ways to take it away.

If the Spurs decide to keep both of their lottery picks, Sheppard would be a great pick at number four, granted he is still available. He likely won't be there at eight. An underrated result of shot-making is that it allows you to set your defense. The Kentucky sharpshooter would help San Antonio in more ways than one, and any Spurs fan should be happy if the franchise calls his name on draft night.

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