BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Fans, journalists and NBA executives can all rejoice, because NBA Draft Day is finally here! All the mock drafts, trade speculation and hypotheticals will end Wednesday night when the first pick is made.
The Spurs hold the fourth and eighth picks tonight, but it’s no guarantee that they'll make both. Unlike last year with Victor Wembanyama, there is no clear cut No. 1 pick.
The Atlanta Hawks' selection at No. 1 will dictate how the rest of the lottery plays out. The Hawks could engage the Spurs to trade for their top pick, but San Antonio has shown a reluctance to make aggressive trades in the past. Plus, the Spurs own two of Atlanta’s first-round picks over the next three years from the Dejounte Murray trade in 2022.
Outside of the few individuals in the Spurs’ war room at The Rock at La Cantera tonight, no one really knows what's coming.
What we do know is that San Antonio's beloved Spurs have missed the playoffs for five straight years, the longest drought in team history. The team has their star player in Wembanyama, and now the focus is surrounding him with the players team officials deem necessary to get back to chasing titles.
The Spurs have smartly put themselves in position with two top-8 picks tonight, and they can make the picks with a target on players who can help the team right away.
Here’s who I think should be on the Spurs' radar tonight:
#4 - Stephon Castle, UConn
Last season, the Spurs allowed the most points per game (26.94) to opposing point guards. To get that number down, the team should add the best defender in this year’s class.
The 6’6" Castle started 30 games for the national champion UConn Huskies, often drawing the matchup of the opposing team’s best player.
The Big East Freshman of the Year registered a 6'9" wingspan at the NBA Combine in May, giving him the ability to fight over ball screens and disrupt passing lanes. He is arguably the most physically gifted player in this class at just 19 years old.
If there is a knock on Castle, it’s his three-point shooting. He shot just 26.7% from deep in his lone season at UCONN. But on a team that included fellow likely draft picks Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer, Dan Hurley’s team didn’t need Castle to make three-pointers.
For what it’s worth, Castle made 18-25 three pointers at the NBA star shooting drill at the Combine. He played both guard positions at UConn, but has said that he prefers to go to an NBA team with a need at point guard.
Last season, the Spurs' point guard rotation consisted of natural forward Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones, and the still-raw Blake Wesley.
Point guard is the Spurs’ biggest need, and if the best position prospect is on the board when they pick, they shouldn’t hesitate to select him. A defensive anchor on the perimeter would make Wembanyama’s job in the post much easier for years to come.
#8 – Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham has seen his range go from the top three to falling outside of the lottery. His size (6’1”) is offset by his speed.
One of the most heralded recruits of the 2023 recruiting class, Dillingham’s end-to-end quickness makes him lightning in a bottle.
His tape tells the story. In his lone season at Kentucky, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points per game in just 23 minutes played. He only started one game in Lexington, but I don’t look too much into starts when it comes to the Kentucky Wildcats (see Devin Booker, S. Gilgeous-Aleander).
Dillingham scored at least 20 points on eight different occasions off the bench, which is likely where he would start his NBA career.
John Calipari builds his players for the NBA, and the sets Dillingham ran in college will translate well to the NBA game, particularly with the Spurs, where a pick-and-roll set with Dillingham’s speed and Wembanyama’s size could be lethal.
Dillingham even lobbied for the Spurs to take him at interviews in May. If the Spurs take Castle’s defense at No. 4, an offensive-minded selection like this one makes sense.
I’d be fine with Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht or Providence’s Devin Carter here, but Dillingham (19) is three years younger than those two.
In a draft without any can’t-miss prospect at the top, the Spurs should be able to afford to take a swing on a player with high upside, particularly if they make a second lottery selection.
#35 – Nikola Djurisic, Serbia
At least 10 international players have been selected in the NBA Draft every year since 2000, and that trend will continue this year.
6’7” Serbian Nikola Djurisic will be one of those players picked for his ability to score. Playing for Mega Basket in the ABA Adriatic League, Djurisic averaged 14.4 points per game on 45% shooting.
The game translation of international players is always a bit of a mystery, but Djurisic’s quick shooting release opened eyes at the NBA combine against American college players. The tape shows a confident player who will get a chance in NBA practices.
At just 20 years old, I’ll roll the dice on a physically gifted shooter who could carve out a bench role over a few years.
KENS 5 Panel Picks
Nate Ryan, KENS 5 sports anchor
- #4 – Castle
- #8 – Dillingham
- #35 – Djurisic
- #48 – Trade
Casey Viera, KENS 5 sports anchor
- #4 – Castle
- #8 – Tidaje Salaun (France)
- #35 – Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
- #48 – Juan Nunez (Spain)
Vinnie Vinzetta, KENS 5 sports reporter
- #4 – Castle
- #8 – Dalton Knecht (Tennessee)
- #35 – Trade
- #48 – Kevin McCullar (Kansas)
Jeff Garcia, Locked On Spurs host
- #4 – Castle
- #8 – Knecht