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

With NBA All-Star weekend just past, the San Antonio Spurs are now over the halfway point through the season and past the trade deadline, meaning what Spurs fans are seeing now will more or less be close to what they’ll see for the rest of the season. With that in mind, it’s finally time to start talking more about the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.

Some of the recent pre-deadline trades have undoubtedly affected the Spurs, even if they weren’t involved in any big trades themselves. The team is currently projected to have two 1st round picks in the top half of the lottery, along with the 33rd and 44th overall picks coming in the 2nd round. That’s four potential rookies making their way to San Antonio this coming June, and it comes in what is turning out to be one of the most challenging draft classes to analyze in recent memory.

The 2024 draft class has proven to be unprecedentedly fluid—players who were projected in the top five in the preseason may not be drafted at all, and some players who weren’t even featured in draft talks at all in the preseason have skyrocketed up boards. Unlike last year’s class, there isn’t a prospect that has separated themselves from the pack in the way that Victor Wembanyama did, meaning Spurs brass will have to do some serious homework before draft day in June.

For those same reasons, a slower and more calculated approach to draft analysis during this cycle is necessary. While this “big board” will feature brief introductions of the players Spurs fans should keep an eye on, the names here aren’t in any particular order and should serve more as a watch list than any definitive ranking. There has been a lot of movement on draft boards up to this point, and we expect even more movement going forward. Draft prospects’ full bodies of work will be more important this season than ever before.

With all of that being considered, without further ado, these are the names Spurs fans need to know moving into the offseason.

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)

Spurs 2024 NBA Draft prospects: wings

Searching for a starting, NBA-caliber point guard in this draft class is incredibly tricky, and in the Spurs’ case specifically, the looming possibility of Trae Young becoming available for trade only makes the search that much more complicated.

On the other hand, I’m very bullish on several wing prospects projected to be selected toward the top of the 2024 draft, and I advise Spurs fans to start paying close attention to them now. With Keldon Johnson now embracing a sixth-man role off the bench and Julian Champagnie serving as the team’s de facto starting small forward, there is a massive opportunity coming up for the Spurs to make a big upgrade at that position, and as of mid-February, I think the Spurs selecting a wing with their first pick, if not the first two picks in the draft, is a likely outcome.

Cody Williams - Colorado

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-8; 190 pounds; 7-foot wingspan

Quite a bit can change between now and June, both for better or worse. But at this moment, were I to give a red-hot take that nobody asked for, my money would be on the front office selecting Colorado freshman Cody Williams (the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams) at #1 overall were the team to secure the top pick. The Spurs’ track record of desirable traits in wings, Williams’ fit with the current core, and his individual upside in a vacuum all make Williams an appealing match.

Through 15 games played, Williams has emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball, has juice off the bounce with the ball in his hands, has excellent positional size, is a highly efficient scorer around the rim, and has shown quite a bit of promise as a jump shooter. Such a well-rounded prospect is a hot commodity in the 2024 draft, and if his shooting remains efficient with greater volume (and he can improve from the free-throw line), he’ll end up as a lock for the top 5, if not higher.

Zaccharie Risacher - JL Bourg (France)

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-9; 193 pounds

Right on Williams’ tail is JL Bourg wing Zaccharie Risacher (roughly pronounced Ree-suh-shay), who, after coming into the draft cycle with tempered expectations, has shot up draft boards and is now considered a top-five prospect by many in draft circles. After an underwhelming summer, including a rough appearance in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit, Risacher’s consistent three-point shooting and defense have popped in a big way, making him one of the safer and better-fitting bets for the Spurs at the top of the board.

The lingering questions about Risacher’s ability to create—both for himself and others—are what hold him back from being on Williams’ tier at the moment, as the Spurs are desperately in need of more players who can create offense off the dribble. While the signs have been there that he’s improving (particularly in his playmaking), I’ll need to see more consistent flashes of that potential to be more comfortable with his upside. But being that the Spurs already have their superstar on the roster, there is something to be said for taking a safer route in the draft.

Stephon Castle - UConn

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-6; 215 pounds; 6-foot-9 wingspan

UConn freshman Stephon Castle blurs the line between what constitutes a guard and wing the most out of every player mentioned here, as he has guard skills to speak of but has operated more as a connective wing with senior guard Tristen Newton running the show. Regardless of what Castle is at the next level, however, he’s shown enough to be in this conversation.

Castle’s counting stats will make many question his hype up to this point, but his good positional size at 6-foot-6, playmaking acumen, defensive versatility, and scoring upside remain very interesting. His scoring aggression is what currently leaves a lot to be desired, but if he starts knocking down shots at a respectable rate, as he did recently against Providence, his stock could skyrocket later in the draft process.

Ron Holland - G League Ignite

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-8; 206 pounds; 7-foot wingspan

On the surface, Ron Holland on the Spurs does not feel like a great match, but one could argue that the Spurs are in such a bad way that fit may not matter much come draft day. Holland in a Spurs’ context isn’t something that has been talked about a whole lot, to the point that it’s become an underrated possibility. Similar to Collier, Holland is likely the most explosive athlete in the draft at his position, and considering that, along with his age and production in a professional league, his upside is undeniably tremendous.

At least one of Holland and Jeremy Sochan would likely have to become consistently league-average shooters for the trio of those two and Victor Wembanyama to be a viable starting unit long-term, but if you’re a believer in that coming to fruition, the two-way upside of that group is outrageous. Holland is a blur in transition, would generate much-needed rim pressure in the half-court, and has had enough flashes of good ball handling and shotmaking off the bounce to keep him in the mix of top-tier wings in the class.

Honorable mentions

Kyshawn George (Miami), Johnny Furphy (Kansas), Dalton Knecht (Tennessee), Matas Buzelis (G League Ignite), Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor), Tidjane Salaun (Cholet)

Spurs 2024 NBA Draft prospects: bigs

At the time of writing, there has been no indication that Zach Collins is going anywhere via trade this offseason (even after being relegated to the bench), Victor Wembanyama is continuing to do Victor Wembanyama things, and Dominick Barlow has emerged in the wake of Charles Bassey’s season-ending knee injury. And while I don’t think any of these things would necessarily stop the Spurs from selecting a big man in the draft, those factors certainly add a wrinkle to that possibility. For that reason, this is almost certainly the most questionable group of prospects featured here.

Sheer upside will continue to be a priority for the Spurs in their assessment of big man prospects, but Wembanyama’s presence will force the Spurs to consider team fit and general draft value more with these players in comparison to wing and guard prospects. The team selecting a big within the top 10 is difficult to imagine at this stage, but if they can find a player with the versatility to play with or without Wembanyama on the court, it remains a slim possibility.

Alexandre Sarr - Perth Wildcats

Approximate measurements: 7-foot-1; 216 pounds; 7-foot-5 wingspan

If the Spurs are going to spend a lottery pick on another big man, Perth’s Alex Sarr strikes me as the only player who stands a decent chance right now. He fits the recent trend of highly mobile defensive-minded bigs that have tangible offensive upside beyond rim-running and play-finishing. Sarr can hold his own on the perimeter on defense, is a talented shot-blocker, has good shooting touch for his size, and is comfortable with putting the ball on the floor.

Even so, Sarr’s fit with Wembanyama on the floor, particularly given how similar their builds are to one another, leaves several questions lingering. Sarr playing at the power forward position early on will almost surely lead to mixed results at best, and Spurs fans have already gotten to experience how much more impactful Wembanyama playing at center is for the team. Purely from a talent perspective, Sarr is deservingly a top-5 prospect, but several wing and guard prospects toward the top of the board would be a significantly better fit in comparison.

Yves Missi - Baylor

Approximate measurements: 7-foot-0; 235 pounds; 7-foot-6 wingspan

Yves Missi has slowly been creeping up draft boards lately, and at the moment, he strikes me as the best-fitting big man prospect for the Spurs. His big body, good screen setting, mobility, play-finishing ability, and rebounding all complement Wembanyama well were he to share the floor with him, but he could also anchor a bench unit quite well on his own. After seeing him play in person, I’d argue the touch on his shot is a bit better than his numbers suggest as well.

Once again, however, whether or not the Spurs select him will likely come down to value. If the Spurs’ protected Raptors pick were to fall toward the end of the lottery, this selection could make some sense depending on who is still available. But the higher in the lottery the pick lands, the tougher that pick will be to stomach, especially given his lack of ball-handling abilities. Regardless, Missi is quite good and someone to still keep an eye on.

DaRon Holmes II - Dayton

Approximate measurements: 6-foot-10; 235 pounds; 7-foot-1 wingspan

Dayton junior DaRon Holmes is a name we’ve been keeping tabs on for quite some time now and is someone who could have been in the cards for the Spurs this past draft had he decided to stay in it. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound big man is someone who has been classified as a bit of a “tweener” in the past, yet has remained incredibly productive every year in college and is now easily having the best three-point shooting season of his career, hitting 39% of his 2.6 attempts per game this season.

Holmes’ frame in conjunction with the physicality of the NBA will likely be a big adjustment for him early on, but his feel for the game on both ends of the floor continues to serve him well, and I find it incredibly difficult to believe that he won’t find ways to be effective in NBA games. Furthermore, Holmes could come at the best value of any player listed here, particularly if he can be had in the 2nd round of the draft. If Holmes is still available after the lottery, expect the Spurs to have some level of interest.

Donovan Clingan - UConn

Approximate measurements: 7-foot-2; 280 pounds; 7-foot-7 wingspan

I can’t help but find myself thinking of Jakob Poeltl when watching UConn sophomore Donovan Clingan. His game is defined by fundamentally sound defense, efficient scoring around the basket, good complementary playmaking ability, and consistent rebounding. He profiles as a center who, despite lacking positional versatility, can find ways to mesh well in several different lineups and contexts, and San Antonio would likely love to have that back again.

Clingan comes with a certain amount of risk, however, as he’s been plagued by foot injuries during his time with UConn and has serious durability questions. Stellar medicals during the pre-draft process this coming spring and summer could ease those concerns to some degree, but at his size, foot and other lower-body injuries tend to scare teams in the modern NBA. He’s a lottery-level talent, but he needs to stay on the court for him to solidify that status.

Honorable mentions

Ulrich Chomche (NBA Academy Africa), Zvonimir Ivisic (Kentucky), Trevon Brazile (Arkansas), Adem Bona (UCLA), Kel’el Ware (Indiana)