Spurs draft controversial power forward in new mock draft

Now that the NCAA Tournament is over, another round of mock drafts can permeate the interwebs. In the latest from FanSided, the Spurs' pick via the Atlanta Hawks dropped all the way to the 20th spot, where they selected Koa Peat, a powerhouse forward out of Arizona. The Wildcats made it all the way to the Final Four, and Peat was a large part of that effort. However, he's not right for San Antonio.

The Spurs don't need another power forward who can't shoot

This is going to sound crazy to some people, and that's where the "controversial" part comes in. While clearly talented, most evaluators agree that it's hard to project his game. To me, that makes the answer on whether to draft him simple: he's an undersized big (6'8") with good touch around the basket but questionable shooting ability.

San Antonio just went through that experiment with Jeremy Sochan. It resulted in him walking out the door, and the Silver and Black got nothing in return for his services. It was the right thing to do due to the circumstances surrounding his situation, but that doesn't change the reality that SA struck out on that pick.

The Spurs have a unique roster construction with an alien who can score from all over the court and three supremely talented guards who love to live near the basket, so they're kinda maxed out on paint presence right now. Their offense and defense are both in the top ten, so they're not wanting for much. Anyone they add to the team needs to be able to stretch the floor, and that's not Peat.

The Spurs have everything they need right now

If the pick is going to fall that far and this caliber of player is all that's available to the Silver and Black, they would be better off trading it for more assets down the line. Again, that's not a slight to Peat. As long as he lands in the right place, he'll have a fine career, but the only thing he would be bringing to San Antonio is a little extra physicality. They don't really need that.

Lest anyone forget, the last time the Spurs played the most physical team in the league, they clowned them all game. The Detroit Pistons didn't really know what hit them in that early March meeting. San Antonio has operated as bullies for a while now, and their players are almost all young, so they're only going to get stronger.

Julian Champagnie is fine playing the four. He brings the added floor spacing the team needs, and if Mitch Johnson wanted to switch that up, he could put Carter Bryant in there next season. He'll be ready to go at the rate he's been developing this year.

All of San Antonio's rotational guys are under contract to return next season, except for Harrison Barnes. They could either resign him to a smaller deal or let him walk and just roll with who they have now. This team almost finished this year with the best record in the league. Continuity could ensure they pull it off next time, so unless they're getting Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, they're good as is.