Post by George Gervin on Jul 10, 2018 14:02:34 GMT
With the 2018 D5 draft in the books, let’s see how the relief GM, Spurs legend George Gervin, did in his first time through a draft. The Spurs had six picks in the draft, which was second most to the Washington Wizards for total picks. The headliners for the Spurs were the two lottery picks, but that doesn’t mean value wasn’t secured throughout the draft by the team.
- Luka Doncic (2nd overall) - SG/SF, Real Madrid (Slovenia). Spurs fans may be disappointed the team traded out of the top slot, but in securing their 2019 1st round pick and staying in the top 2, no one can argue the value wasn’t there to trade back one spot. Doncic should prove to be a face of the franchise type for San Antonio; already very decorated for such a young player with a Euroleague title, Final Four MVP, and Euroleague MVP to his name, Doncic has faced the pressure cooked playoff environments in Europe and should play with a maturity far beyond his 19 years of age. He has hesitation moves, stepbacks, flashy passes, and a high basketball IQ. However, Spurs fans may have reservations that the team passed on two higher ceiling bigs— Jaren Jackson Jr. and Mo Bamba— on the board for what appears to be the safest pick in the draft. Time will tell if opting for more of a sure thing vs. the high upside bigs was a costly mistake for the franchise and its new GM.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12th overall) - PG/SG, University of Kentucky. With their second lottery selection, the Spurs took Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the fast rising PG out of Kentucky. Primarily an attacking the rim, downhill PG in John Calipari’s dribble drive offense, SGA showed his game was more expansive in workouts than previously shown at Kentucky. His rapid growth in the last 18 months as a player both physically and skill wise bodes well for his trajectory, and with Doncic he should form a huge, high basketball IQ backcourt. However, much like Doncic at #2, Spurs fans will wonder if the team passed on a higher upside guy for a player who may be a safer pick, as Zhaire Smith, the human pogo stick playing in the state of Texas did college, may have been the home run pick to make over SGA.
- Moritz Wagner (31st overall) - PF/C, University of Michigan. The target Spurs fans— and frankly, their new GM— were probably hoping for was Mitchell Robinson, the mystery big man with elite physical tools and a hunger to prove to teams he was worth a higher pick. He went one pick in front of their selection at 31, and instead San Antonio went with its next highest rated big on the board, Moritz Wagner out of Michigan. A three year player from the Big Ten conference, Wagner progressively improved throughout his college career, becoming the go to player for a team that played for the NCAA title. A prototype stretch big, Wagner should offer floor spacing, an NBA ready body, and another high basketball IQ player. Questions will linger about his foot speed to switch onto guards if necessary in today’s NBA, but offensively Wagner should provide value as a spot starter and main rotation player for the Spurs.
- Keita Bates-Diop (38th overall) - SF/PF, Ohio State University. The Spurs dipped again into the Big Ten conference, selecting the 2018 Big Ten Player of the Year, Keita Bates-Diop. KBD, similar to Wagner, progressively improved throughout his three years in college, culminating in a Junior season where he averaged nearly 20 ppg and 9 rpg. A combo forward, KBD should be able to provide immediate minutes in a bench role as a scorer and rebounder, as well as utilize his length (7’3” wingspan) and quickness to provide some plus defensive possessions. If there is a negative to Bates-Diop, at almost 22 years old, he appears to have limited upside left and may be nothing more than a key bench cog. In the second round, though, where there are far more bench cogs than Draymond Green or Michael Redd types, this pick is a solid low risk, high floor pick.
- Billy Preston (59th overall) - C, USA. Draft rights traded to LA Lakers for a future 2nd round pick.
- Rawle Alkins (60th overall) - SF, University of Arizona. With the final selection in the draft, the Spurs selected Rawle Alkins, a sophomore wing from Arizona. A dogged defender and physical player in the Marcus Smart/Andre Iguodala mold, Alkins, if healthy, could end up as a wing defender off the bench for the Spurs. However, offensively he is still fairly limited to drives to the hoop, and with the direction the league is going to be able to have shooters on the floor regardless of position, is Alkins a guy who can contribute with his limitations? Additionally, Alkins suffered multiple foot injuries at Arizona that may compress his career; if he gets healthy and can become a passable shooter, Alkins may prove to be a steal this late, but at pick #60, if he pans out, he bucks normal history and convention this far down.