Grading 7 Spurs NBA Draft prospects from ‘don't draft’ to ‘draft now’

The 2024 NBA Draft is now less than a month away, and soon we will know which of this year's prospects will join the San Antonio Spurs. Spurs fans have no doubt been devouring every single mock draft and debating which prospects will fit on the roster next to Victor Wembanyama.

So far, seven prospects have been linked to the Spurs in multiple mock drafts but which of them would fit the best? Heading into the summer, San Antonio needs to upgrade at point guard and small forward and there are a few players that could help them at each position. Keep this in mind as we take a look at and grade the seven prospects mocked to the Spurs from ‘don't draft' to ‘draft now!’

7) Dalton Knecht

Tennessee's Dalton Knecht ranks as one of the more prolific scorers in this year's draft class. He averaged an impressive 21.5 points while shooting 39.6% on 6.6 3-point attempts per game. His shooting ability makes him the ideal off-ball threat in the NBA, though he showed he had the ability to create for himself off the dribble.

That likely won't be his role on the Spurs and he may instead play a role similar to that of Doug McDermott. That is a valuable player to have, though there are limitations. Like McDermott, Knecht struggles on defense, and that probably limits him to being a decent starter or good rotation player on a good team, which the Spurs hope to be.

Assuming that he is an option for the eighth pick and not the fourth pick, they could do worse given that that draft slot hasn't often produced great players. Still, while Knecht wouldn't be a terrible selection at eighth, he may be a safe choice. They might gamble on a boom-or-bust prospect such as Tidjane Salaun or there's a chance that a player projected to go fourth is available at eight. Thus, San Antonio probably shouldn't take Knecht.

6) Alexandre Sarr

There's a scenario in which the projected number-one pick, Alexandre Sarr, falls to the Spurs at four, and it's a fascinating one. Donovan Clingan has been linked to the Atlanta Hawks at number one, while the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets have also been seen as possibilities to select Zaccharie Risacher and Reed Sheppard.

In that scenario, the Spurs would have to choose whether to draft the 7'1 prospect. Saar is one of the few players who seemingly has star potential, though he may not fit the Spurs as well as other top prospects. The thought of him and Wembanyama forming a French version of the Twin Towers is tantalizing, to say the least.

After all, Saar has the skill set to be a terrific defender who can guard on the perimeter and challenge shots at the rim, but Wembanyama can do all of those things already. Saar also has the chance to be a stretch five who can score in the paint, something else Wembanyama already can.

Two of those players are technically better than one, but the Spurs are likely better off using the fourth and eighth picks to take the best-available point guard and small forward. That would allow them to shore up their weakest positions, so the Spurs shouldn't draft Saar in the unlikely event that he falls to them unless they move him in a deal to pick up an additional asset.

5) Rob Dillingham

Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham has often been mocked to be selected by the Spurs with the fourth pick, though it's not impossible that he's available at eight. While Dillingham has the potential to be the best offensive player in this draft class, his size at just 6'1 and 165 pounds is hard to ignore.

He also wasn't helped by the results of the draft lottery or the apparently rising draft stocks of Donovan Clingan and his teammate Reed Sheppard. Factor in that the Spurs are reportedly high on another guard (more on him later) and Dillingham may slide. If he's available at eight, then the Spurs should take him, given his elite shot creation on the perimeter and in the paint, though he will probably struggle on defense.

For a team with future championship hopes, it's something they will have to weigh. Having someone who can simultaneously keep defenders on their heels and then get targeted on the other end of the floor is a concern, but it isn't necessarily a deal-breaker in today's NBA.

Especially with Wembanyama there to clean up mistakes and there's a case to be made for Dillingham making life easier on Wembanyama too. Overall, if the Spurs are going strictly with the most talented player available, Dillingham may be their pick at either draft spot.

4) Zaccharie Risacher

French forward Zacharrie Risacher has seen his draft stock seemingly recover after it dipped following a prolonged cold streak. He is still playing internationally, and that has worked to his advantage, with several big outings recently helping him stay in the mix to be selected in the top three.

There is a scenario where he falls to the Spurs at four if the Hawks and Wizards take either Saar or Clingan and the Rockets pick a player that we will discuss soon. That would be great for San Antonio, who'd get one of the better shooters in the draft and who would solidify their frontcourt of the future. Risacher would join Sochan and Wembanyama to form a massive frontline that is comparable to the Denver Nuggets.

Risacher is also considered to be a good defender and his size at 6'8 is similar to Sochan, possibly allowing the Spurs to switch certain matchups with Wembanyama there to lock down the paint. If the draft order were to break in San Antonio's favor and allow them to select Risacher, there is still a chance that one of the three guards we'll discuss next would also be available. Ensuring that they address their two biggest roster needs.

3) Nikola Topic

Despite Nikola Topic being seen as arguably the best passer in the draft, he has flown under the radar in recent weeks. He is mostly still considered a top-five pick and his court vision coupled with his size at 6'6 is the reason why. The biggest drawbacks to his game are his shooting and defense and that is probably why the Spurs have been linked to a player who we'll talk about next.

On the other hand, given the team's need for playmaking, perhaps they are playing coy with their interest in Topic since many know their tendency to draft international prospects. If that were the case, then he'd help solve the team's problem of getting Wemby the ball. While his shot is a concern, he took a lot of shots off the dribble, so he may be a better spot-up shooter in the NBA. Moreover, although his shot isn't broken, his jumper should be tweakable.

That, combined with his being an effective slasher and finisher who is terrific at throwing wrap-around passes to open shooters on the perimeter, means the potential is there for him to be a terrific offensive player. Although there may be another point guard with a similar size available, if Topic pans out, then he might just have star potential.

2) Reed Sheppard

After posting a 42-inch vertical leap at the NBA combine, guard Reed Sheppard seems more and more like a top-five lottery pick. His athleticism combined with sharp shooting, including shooting 52% from three plays with Kentucky, is a big selling point.

That, coupled with his playmaking and defensive ability, makes it look as though he will be a good player for a long time. Still, taking him fourth overall might be a little high for a player who has a starter but not star potential. Then again, that is more on the quality of this draft class than Sheppard himself and he would help the Spurs.

If they were to select him, he'd probably be the best shooter on the roster, and having a guard who can be equally effective in playing with and without the ball would be nice. After all, Wembanyama will probably see his overall role in the team's offense increase next season, with the Spurs using him to create for others.

Having someone who can get Wembanyama the ball in the right spot and be ready to make teams pay when they double him is something that Sheppard can do. The Spurs should be interested in him as a result.

1) Stephon Castle

Stephon Castle would be a fascinating choice were the Spurs to draft him in the top eight given his two-way potential. Castle is mostly seen as a wing but has guard skills and has even turned down workout requests from teams that already have a point guard in place.

The Spurs, of course, don't, and they are said to be high on Castle, making him seem like an ideal fit. Assuming he can be a point guard at the next level, he'd give the team a terrific defender who can guard three positions. He has also shown that he is an underrated playmaker with the ball in his hands, though he will have to improve his 24% 3-point percentage.

Playing on-ball should make that less of an issue. Still, there would be pressure on him or Jeremy Sochan to become high-volume shooters from outside or risk them not being able to play together without teams leaving them open.

Then again, if Castle can become a shooter, San Antonio would be able to play a versatile lineup that includes Castle, Devin Vassell, Sochan, and Wembanyama, which has the potential to be an elite defensive unit. There are ultimately several strong options at point guard. While Castle might not have as high of a ceiling as some of them, he has a chance to fit the Spurs better.