Unveiling San Antonio Spurs mid-season 2024 NBA Draft big board

Spurs 2024 NBA Draft prospects: guards

Spurs fans likely will not want to hear this after enduring the point Sochan experiment and due to the general lack of lead ball handlers on the team, but I’m not convinced at this stage that there is a lead guard prospect in the upcoming draft class that will be considered the so-called “point guard of the future.” There’s still quite a bit of time left for that to change, but for those looking for that kind of player for the Spurs in the 2024 draft, proceed with caution. 

Even so, the fact remains that the Spurs need more guards who can make good decisions with the basketball, create rim pressure, and preferably shoot well enough to force defenders to go over ball screens. The chances are slim that any name here will be able to do all of those things well straight out of the gate, but there is still plenty of upside to be had in the following players.

Reed Sheppard - Kentucky

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-2; 187 pounds; 6-foot-3 wingspan

You’ll see his upside questioned on a pretty regular basis, and it remains uncertain whether Reed Sheppard is a starting NBA point guard, but the fact remains that he is without question the most statistically impactful freshman in college basketball. He has outstanding hands on defense, shoots the leather off the basketball (posting 53/52/81 shooting splits through 23 games), and has a feel for the game that is as good as anyone else in his draft class.

While his hands may inflate his defensive impact to a certain extent, Sheppard jumps off the court as someone who contributes to winning basketball at a high level on both ends of the floor and could conceivably play minutes at both backcourt positions. Come draft day, that two-way impact and versatility should have Spurs fans very excited.

Rob Dillingham - Kentucky

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-3; 176 pounds

Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham continues to impress alongside Sheppard and, at this point in the cycle, is the top guard prospect for Spurs fans to monitor moving forward. Dating back to his time with Overtime Elite, Dillingham has been a dynamic shot-maker to the point that he began being labeled as a shot-chucker. But early on with Kentucky, the freshman guard has looked the part of a true floor general, displaying better-than-advertised playmaking and continuing to hit shots efficiently.

Like Sheppard, Dillingham is flirting with the “undersized” label, and his defense—particularly on-ball—will likely never become a net positive in the NBA. With Wembanyama and Sochan serving as the Spurs’ defensive cornerstones, however, the Spurs can afford to look past that shortcoming at the PG position were he to enter the starting lineup. For those looking for a scoring-minded PG that can play on and off the ball on offense, has some of the best shooting touch in the class, and creates for others through wildly impressive passing angles, Dillingham may be the best bet in this draft class.

Nikola Topic - KK Crvena zvezda/Red Star (Serbia)

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-6; 203 pounds; 7-foot wingspan

Currently out with a knee injury, Topic broke out as a clear NBA prospect after producing in a big way for his former team, KK Mega Basket, where he averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. He has outstanding tools as a driver, showcasing deceivingly good change-of-pace athleticism, decent touch around the rim, and high-level court vision.

While these tools, along with his good positional size, make him a somewhat safe choice in a vacuum, his distance shooting remains a big question mark and will be something to watch once he returns from injury. If the Spurs believe in him eventually becoming a league-average shooter and other current Spurs players making significant improvements as shooters, Topic will be a very real option toward the top of the board. If the Spurs don't believe in that outcome, his fit with the current roster becomes more questionable.

Isaiah Collier - USC

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-5; 210 pounds

Since starting the draft cycle near the very top of big boards and mock drafts, Isaiah Collier’s stock has cooled in a significant way following his struggles with shooting and protecting the ball. Averaging nearly as many turnovers as assists per game with 49/33/69 shooting splits is understandably enough to put worries in scouts’ minds, and those numbers will have to improve for Collier to be considered a no-brainer lottery prospect.

With that in mind, however, beyond the Spurs’ three-point shooting woes, the team's lack of created rim pressure is somewhat underrated. Solely analyzing prospects by their ability to generate rim pressure, Collier is likely one of the two best guards in the class, averaging nearly 7 free throws per game. This is something the Spurs will have to prioritize at some point to create a more viable half-court offense, and that alone is reason to still be paying close attention to Collier.

Honorable mentions

Judah Mintz (Syracuse), Ajay Mitchell (Santa Barbara), Tyler Kolek (Marquette), Jared McCain (Duke), AJ Johnson (Illawarra Hawks)