Best/Worst Draft Scenarios
(#26 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Drafting SG Rashad Vaughn (UNLV, Freshman)
The Spurs are in a tough spot this summer: their four best wing players (SF/SG Kawhi Leonard, SG Manu Ginobili, SG/SF Danny Green, and SG Marco Belinelli), in addition to PG/SG Cory Joseph who manned a lot of minutes at the two last season, are all hitting free agency. For some insurance, it’s borderline-necessary that San Antonio nabs a quality shooting guard via the draft, and especially one that can play in Coach Gregg Popovich’s Ubuntu-esque system. Enter Vaughn, a young, energetic, dynamic scorer. The UNLV freshman can score in every way imaginable: beyond the arc, mid-range, by attacking to the basket, and off the dribble too. His strength and athleticism also help him to be a quality defender on the other end. He lacks discipline, which is pretty much the only knock on an 18 year old with this kind of talent, as his shot-selection, attitude, and work ethic can all be questioned. However, working with Mr. Popovich and in the Spurs’ environment will surely change that quickly, and Vaughn projects to be a key spark scorer off the bench immediately for San Antonio nonetheless.
Worst Case Scenario: None
To be perfectly honest, there can never be a worst case scenario in the draft for the Spurs. You could have a wild monkey throw darts at prospects’ names, and that guy would still become a key role player for San Antonio en route to yet another playoff run. Their environment for training players and team basketball is just too good. This draft in particular, however, doesn’t really project to have any can’t-miss prospects near the end anyways, so the Spurs can simply settle for wherever the monkey’s dart lands. In other words, there are plenty of players that could fill a hole for the Spurs and that they could groom at this point in the draft, so the franchise can know who they have their eyes set on before the draft even begins.
(#26 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Drafting SG Rashad Vaughn (UNLV, Freshman)
The Spurs are in a tough spot this summer: their four best wing players (SF/SG Kawhi Leonard, SG Manu Ginobili, SG/SF Danny Green, and SG Marco Belinelli), in addition to PG/SG Cory Joseph who manned a lot of minutes at the two last season, are all hitting free agency. For some insurance, it’s borderline-necessary that San Antonio nabs a quality shooting guard via the draft, and especially one that can play in Coach Gregg Popovich’s Ubuntu-esque system. Enter Vaughn, a young, energetic, dynamic scorer. The UNLV freshman can score in every way imaginable: beyond the arc, mid-range, by attacking to the basket, and off the dribble too. His strength and athleticism also help him to be a quality defender on the other end. He lacks discipline, which is pretty much the only knock on an 18 year old with this kind of talent, as his shot-selection, attitude, and work ethic can all be questioned. However, working with Mr. Popovich and in the Spurs’ environment will surely change that quickly, and Vaughn projects to be a key spark scorer off the bench immediately for San Antonio nonetheless.
Worst Case Scenario: None
To be perfectly honest, there can never be a worst case scenario in the draft for the Spurs. You could have a wild monkey throw darts at prospects’ names, and that guy would still become a key role player for San Antonio en route to yet another playoff run. Their environment for training players and team basketball is just too good. This draft in particular, however, doesn’t really project to have any can’t-miss prospects near the end anyways, so the Spurs can simply settle for wherever the monkey’s dart lands. In other words, there are plenty of players that could fill a hole for the Spurs and that they could groom at this point in the draft, so the franchise can know who they have their eyes set on before the draft even begins.