Jaden Ivey: A Questionably-Fitting, High-Upside Pick for Spurs

I know what many of you are already thinking, San Antonio Spurs fans: "anything but another guard!" If you're tired of the Spurs selecting guards in the draft year after year, particularly after last year's big surprise that was Josh Primo, I don't blame you.

With the Spurs now coming up on the sixth anniversary of Tim Duncan's retirement, which happens to be coinciding with a resurgence of talented big men in the league, fans are understandably begging for the team to bolster their frontcourt for the first time in years.

If you're asking me, that's precisely what I want, too. At this point, the Spurs are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, lack a consistent scoring threat that can finish above the rim, and are nearly devoid of switchable defenders over 6'7". Simply put, the Spurs are more than ready for a dose of talent in their frontcourt, and many even thought that the 2021 NBA Draft would mark the last time fans would have to say that.

There's a flip side to this coin, though. While the Spurs obviously need help in the frontcourt, if they see luck in the lottery and end up in a position to draft a guard that's been compared to Ja Morant and Russell Westbrook, should the front office pull the trigger? While this is far from being the first conversation revolving around the "best player available vs. best fitting player available" debate, it's a conversation that is perhaps more polarizing than it's ever been for Spurs fans in recent memory.

If there's any player that will spark this fiery debate in the 2022 NBA Draft, it is Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey. Here, we'll discuss why Ivey has become a near consensus top-5 pick in this year's draft, why his fit will come into question with the current Spurs roster, why his fit on the roster may not matter, and what the implications may be if the Spurs were to select him.