Spurs ignore March Madness entirely to support Wembanyana in latest mock

Like fans of any team, plenty of members of Spurs Nation planned for a little scouting during the NCAA Tournament this year with such a dynamic incoming class in the upcoming draft. But Hannes Steinbach went to Washington, and they didn't make the tournament. In FanSided's new mock draft, they have San Antonio adding the Huskies' versatile forward to their ranks, and it's not a bad idea.

Spurs would add more size to their frontcourt with Hannes Steinbach

I don't know whether this guy is 6'11" or 7'0". It depends on what website you're checking. What I do know is that he has the size at almost 250 pounds to walk into the NBA and throw a little weight around. San Antonio has the guard and wing positions locked down, so they don't need to draft players in those spots.

If we're being 100% honest, they don't need a power forward either. But they're adding for luxury at this point, and giving Victor Wembanyama another skilled big man to play off of is incredibly enticing. Especially one averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds on 58% shooting in college.

When I first watched some of his tape from FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024, I honestly wasn't that impressed. I thought he was a bit slow-footed, and his movements were clunky, similar to how I feel about Alperen Sengun. While the Rockets' center gets a lot of love for his ability to put numbers on the board, I'm just not a fan of his playstyle and believe it will hinder his success in the postseason.

The next tape I watched was from his current season at Washington, and I did a complete 180. He's moving much quicker, his game is smoother, and he has a shooting form that suggests a threat lies in wait. The tough rebounding German can pull down the boards on both ends, and he's a fine connector on offense, showing a knack for making passes out of the post and on the move.

Unless Steinbach's shooting efficiency rose quickly, he'd like to come off the bench on a team with so much depth, but that's fine. Mitch Johnson would surely find a way to use and develop him as he has Carter Bryant this year. But all of that is only if they take him. This is a deep contender, and that Atlanta pick isn't what we thought it would be. So, there's another side that should be considered.

What if the Spurs opt to trade the pick away?

In all honesty, they could trade the pick for more assets down the line and run it back with the roster. The Hawks have played better than expected since they added Jonathan Kuminga to their rotation. They're up to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, and if they stay there, San Antonio has zero shot at a lottery pick.

FanSided's Christopher Kline accounted for that in this mock draft, slotting the pick at 17. It's likely not what the front office was hoping for, but it's also not the end of the world. The current team is so good that running it back without moving any pieces is worthy of consideration. The core guys are so young that, despite already being one of the top contenders in the NBA, they'll only get better.

However, if they decide to keep the pick and have a shot at taking Hannes Steinbach, he'd be a fine addition. His size and rebounding will give San Antonio an even stronger bullying element than they already have. Now, the rest of the league won't like that, but Spurs fans will love it. That's what matters.