Two perfect backup options if Spurs dream draft targets are unavailable

For months, San Antonio Spurs fans have been keeping a close eye on the standings to see where the team will pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Currently, they are projected to pick 8th and 14th in June, and fans no doubt have opinions of who they should select.

For many, that's Duke's Kon Knueppel and St. Joseph's Rasheer Fleming. Knueppel is arguably the best shooter in the draft class, with him drilling 39% from deep and 91% from the line. Fleming is a versatile big who can defend on the perimeter, block shots at the rim, finish in the paint, and shoot 40% from three.

Both would be terrific fits for the Spurs, but it's possible that each player will be gone by the time they pick. That would mean they will need a backup plan. Who should they draft if their first choices aren't available? Let's find out!

There are plenty of options for the Spurs in this draft

If Knueppel and Fleming are off the draft board by the time the Spurs select 8th and 14th, then they should turn their attention to Texas' Tre Johnson and French forward Noa Essengue. Johnson is a bona fide bucket-getter, and while that is mostly the extent of what he does, he does it quite well.

He averaged 19.9 points as a freshman at Texas and shot an outlandishly good 39.7% on 6.8 3-point attempts per game. His elite shotmaking at 6'6" is enticing, with him being able to shoot off the bounce, off spot-ups, and get open threes in transition. Not only that, but he can also get into the paint, and while he doesn't get to the rim as often as he should, he does have a reliable mid-range game.

As for Essengue, he is the youngest player in the draft class and shows promise as a versatile forward. He is mobile enough to defend on the perimeter and big enough to defend fours, with his size and mobility being a plus.

He measured out at 6'9" without shoes with a standing reach identical to Jakob Poeltl's and a three-fourth quarter sprint that is faster than Nic Claxton's. His speed really sticks out when he's running the floor in transition or attacking closeouts.

He's a bit thin, weighing less than 200 lbs., and he is currently shooting less than 30% from three, but it's easy to see his potential. To his credit, he has good shooting form and shoots better than 70% from the free-throw line at high volume.

How would Tre Johnson and Noa Essengue fit on the Spurs?

Johnson could slot in as the backup shooting guard for the Spurs and earn minutes next season, though he will likely play behind Steph Castle and compete for minutes with Keldon Johnson. Long term, he could replace Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson.

If that shot develops, then Essengue would be a steal if selected with the Hawks pick. He probably wouldn't play much at power forward next season with Harrison Barnes and Jeremy Sochan, but having a unique player like Essengue to develop could really pay off in a year or two.

All in all, the Spurs will have two picks in this year's draft. Hopefully, they will get their first choices when it comes to those picks, but if they don't, then they will have some strong backup options to choose from.