Spurs' 2022 mock draft roundup: Who will be the lottery pick?

Johnny Davis, Wisconsin

Sites: Yahoo! Sports (4/5), SI (4/22)
Air Alamo Mock: 10th

Krysten Peek of Yahoo! Sports and Jeremy Woo of SI.com both had the Spurs taking Wisconsin's Johnny Davis with their lottery pick. Davis is a 6-5 shooting guard with a beautiful mid-range game and a general nose for the ball on both ends of the floor.

Davis was often responsible for guarding the best guard on the floor despite being the focal point of Wisconsin's offense, which led to him seeming to tire out a bit as the season went on.

San Antonio doesn't expressly need a guard," says SI's Woo, "but his toughness and intangibles would make a lot of sense if the Spurs are unable to pick from among the top tier of bigs."

Our own Dylan Carter had Davis in the fourth tier of his NBA Draft Big Board, citing positional redundancy as the biggest reason he isn't higher. I tend to agree.

Jalen Duren, Memphis

Sites: The Athletic (4/1), Basketball News (4/17), ESPN (4/25), CBS Sports (4/26)
Air Alamo Mock: 7th

A whopping four outlets suggested the Spurs will take Memphis standout Jalen Duren with their first pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. The 6-11, shot-blocking center is undoubtedly a favorite among many of the Air Alamo staff for San Antonio for what he brings to the court.

Duren has the size, footspeed, two-way potential, and potential the Spurs should be eager to welcome. In fact, probably the only reason our own mock draft didn't have San Antonio picking him up themselves is that we think he'll already be off the board by spot nine.

At just 18 years old, Jalen is already a defensive monster with an athletic, NBA-ready body capable of being a day-one difference-maker. If he somehow slips to ninth, San Antonio absolutely must pick up the teenager.

They might even be wise to pair their later picks to move up a few spots if that's possible.