GOGA BITAZDE | C
6-11 | 250 lbs | 7-2 wingspan | Republic of Georgia
12.1 ppg | 6.4 rpg | 2.3 bpg | 54.8% fg pct.
Goga Bitazde is one of very few true centers in this draft and he’s likely in the top three centers. Because of this, he’s risen up draft boards recently, with Tankathon even having him at 14th to the Boston Celtics.
If he falls to number 19 and the Spurs want to address frontcourt depth, Bitazde could certainly be one option. At just 19 years of age, Bitazde has tons of upside.
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]Bitazde is a bit of a throwback center, similar to Enes Kanter and he’s a capable rim protector, swatting 2.3 blocks per game in his last season playing internationally. While he’s always been more of a low-post center, he has shows through improvement over the years that he has the potential to be a stretch big.
He still has some work to do physically and ideally you’d like to see better rebounding numbers out of him, but he doesn’t have the freakishly long wingspan others at the position do. He’s solid at setting screens and passing, and could work well in the pick-and-roll.
One weakness that could be exposed early in his career is his lack of speed defensively. He will have to work around switches when teams try to isolate him on a shooter.
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BOL BOL | C
7-2 | 235 lbs | 7-8 wingspan | Oregon | Freshman
21 ppg | 9.6 rpg | 1.0 apg | 56.1% fg pct.
Oregon’s Bol Bol will get some hard looks from NBA personnel, but it is tough to place him in a mock draft as he only played nine games this season. Not only that but his injury — a navicular fracture in his left foot — is a serious and a mysterious one.
Should he get the “all-clear” from team medical staffs and his pre-draft workouts look good, Bol will start climbing back up draft boards. The 7-foot-2, 235-pound center has some tangible assets that would make him valuable including these stats in the nine games he played this season:
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]21 PPG, 2.7 BPG, 1 APG, 9.6 RPG
56.1 FG%, 52.0 3P%, 75.7 FT%
37.5 PER, 118.2 ORtg, 86.7 DRtg
While those numbers seem astounding, we have to keep in mind that it is a very small sample size. In those games, the Oregon Ducks only played three legitimate teams in Iowa, Syracuse, and Houston. He had three or more blocks in each of those games and didn’t score any less than 14 points. That’s pretty solid and you could make the argument that the Ducks would have been primed to win the PAC 12 with Bol as their centerpiece.
Bol clearly has the tools, size, and wingspan to be a monster in the NBA. However, there are still some questions that need answering from him (aside from the injury ones).
Bol will have to put on weight if he wants to last at the next level, but he has the arms and speed to give opposing big men nightmares.
He is getting comparisons to Kristaps Porzingis, mostly for his height. He can shoot it like Porzingis, but he will have to show that he has a motor that’s always running.
His effort has come into question on several occasions, which will surely not entice some NBA teams to pick him. Missing most of the season doesn’t help his case either, but the stats and tangibles attributes are there for him if a GM or owner is looking to rationalize the pick around the lottery.
What Bol lacks in strength, he makes up for with not only great shooting but also smart play. He’s got a high basketball IQ (the bloodline certainly doesn’t hurt), knows how to post down low and is surprisingly athletic and smooth for someone his size. He has a good enough handle on the ball to take some guys off the dribble if they aren’t ready for it and contorts his body fairly well around the rim to finish shots since he does not absorb the contact all that well.
He also has a bevy of post moves that get him open shots, but it remains to be seen if those will work on bigger defenders. Grabbing the big man late in the first round might be worth the risk, especially if the Spurs can get a clear answer on his foot.
If they feel comfortable taking him, then they should be able to get him a ton of time in Austin to strengthen him up and get him more familiar with the pace of the NBA game.
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BRANDON CLARKE | F
6-8 | 210 lbs | 6-9 wingspan | Gonzaga | Sophomore
16.9 ppg | 8.6 rpg | 1.9 apg | 68.7 FG%
The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward out of Phoenix is a defensive juggernaut and highly efficient offensive player. However, his offense is generated through his driving and occasional post-ups.
Clarke is a highly efficient, low-usage player who could really help out the Spurs. He would be a fantastic rim protector at his position and can keep up with the faster forwards out there and should not have trouble switching on to guards for short periods of time during a game. He should never be asked to guard true centers (think Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and others like them) since he is not only not tall enough, but also a bit on the skinny side right now.
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]However, that lack of girth has given him supreme jumping abilities and explosiveness rivaled by only a few players in this draft class. He gets up quickly off one foot or two and has a major plus wingspan (greater than his height) that helps him swat so many shots.
While most players talk about improving their shooting form or some other part of their game, Clarke has very much been about it. He’s overhauled his form and it has led to a more repeatable and smoother-looking shot. You can see the major difference in Clarke’s shot at the 3:00 mark in the video below. He went from cocking the ball to the side of his head to having a more normal, straight on shot.
He’s clearly made some strides here and while it hasn’t led to more range on his shot this season, it bodes well for shooting projections and should help him solidify his spot on a team. If he can make that drastic a change over one year then you can certainly expect even more improvement with a dedicated shooting coach to help him and plenty of free time outside of games and team practices.
There’s more to Clarke than his defensive abilities and improved shooting though. He can take bigger defenders off the dribble and has a solid post-up game to accompany all that. He has a great spin move he uses often and well. He can do it coming from the top of the horn or from the baseline to get back to the middle of the paint. He complements this spin move with a great touch around the basket and ability to finish at a ton of weird and awkward angles. He’s got great toucher on his floater from the middle of the paint as well, which has become a commonplace thanks to the likes of former Spurs great Tony Parker.
The Bulldog forward has some work to do once he gets drafted, but he is definitely a guy who can become a defensive stopper on a team immediately. He checks off all the major boxes you want like quick-twitch athleticism, jumping ability, quickness, awareness, high motor, speedy reaction to plays and wingspan.
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NICOLAS CLAXTON | C
6-11 | 220 lbs | | Georgia | Sophomore
13 ppg | 8.6 rpg | 1.8 apg | 46% fg pct.
The 6-foot-11, 220-pound center spent two seasons in Athens and saw drastic improvement from his freshman to sophomore campaign. His scoring, minutes, free throw percentage and blocks went up in dramatic fashion.
His long frame and speed should help him get a better feel for his game in Austin where he will need to hone a few things before making the next jump to San Antonio. Here are some of his stats from last season:
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13 PPG, 2.5 BPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.8 APG
46 FG%, 28.1 3P%, 64.1 FT%
21.2 PER, 108.1 ORtg, 99.5 DRtg
Claxton probably could have used one more year at Georgia, but he likely left because of his major improvements this season and because he would not have found much more playing time under coach Tom Crean (who did not recruit him).
The young man has shown flashes of stretch potential, but will definitely have to work on becoming a more consistent shooter from beyond the arc. While his freshman shooting percentage from that area (36.4%) looks a lot better than his sophomore numbers, it’s because he was only taking half a three a game that season.
He bumped that number up to two triples per game this season. He has the mechanics to get where he needs to in that regard, but it will take time. While he is a long-armed shot blocker, Claxton will have to put on weight if he wants to play defense at a consistent and high level in this league. He’s a bit thin and will definitely get pushed around, but the defensive instincts are there. They just need some muscle added to them and he has to be better about biting on fakes as well.
He fixes those things and he will be fine since he is already a good rebounder and rim protector without the meat on him. He gets to the free throw line a bunch, but will also need to work on making more of those freebies as well.
The Bulldog is a classic case of an under-hyped player coming into the draft who could really make a team happy if taken at the right pick. And at 49, he could be that for the Spurs. He is definitely a project though and the expectations for him should not be to make a San Antonio debut before two years are up playing in the G-League.
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RUI HACHIMURA | F
6-8 | 235 lbs | 7-2 wingspan | Gonzaga | Junior
19.7 ppg | 6.6 rpg | 1.6 apg | 60.3% fg pct.
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound junior steadily improved his junior season and finally broke out. He was a Duke killer and general assassin this season as he shot well from everywhere on the floor and became a solid defender to boot.
He does a little bit of everything well and would be a great fit on this Spurs team.
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]Here are some of his stats so far this season.
60.3 FG%, 43.8 3P%, 71.8 FT%
121.7 ORtg, 105.7 DRtg, 26.0 PER
Hachimura has improved his offensive game the most in the post where he has a bevy of moves he can use to get his shot off. He’s bigger than a lot of guys who guard him and he can bully them into the shot he wants — and does that at times — but he usually makes a sound move to get an easy shot. That bodes well for the next level as he won’t be able to pound his defender into submission for a bucket. He’s also become a mid-range assassin as he is comfortable hitting from the elbows, particularly on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
It doesn’t stop there on offense for Hachimura either. He’s become a solid shooter from all over the floor and could be a real weapon if he becomes less reluctant to shoot it from beyond the arc on the pick-and-pop. He’s a good athlete, solid rebounder at his position and has an excellent motor.
There are a few things the young man can improve upon like: being a more willing shooter, not getting lost on defense as much and being more aggressive on defense. He’ll have to get a better handle on his dribble as well as getting a better feel for the game on the defensive end. If those things happen then he is going to be a great pick in 2019’s NBA Draft.
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CAMERON JOHNSON | F
6-9 | 210 lbs | 6-10 wingspan | North Carolina | Senior
16.9 ppg | 5.8 rpg | 2.4 apg | 50.6 FG%
If you look at this year’s NBA Draft, there’s one prospect who could certainly give them another three-point threat the Spurs seemed to be lacking last season. That is North Carolina forward Cameron Johnson. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior put up some great shooting numbers this season:
50.6 FG%, 45.7 3P%, 81.8 FT%
24.4 PER, 128.8 ORtg, 95.7 DRtg
Johnson not only shoots the ball very well at all three levels but has a good post-up game against smaller defenders. He has a few go-to moves there, can face up and hit his shots in the mid-range as well.
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]Surely, that’s something Spurs can appreciate. He has gotten better about finishing in traffic, which is a major deficiency for him. He will still need to improve greatly there to be a driver at the next level, but his shooting alone will keep him afloat for a while.
The Tar Heel can shoot from deep and I mean Splashtown deep. His range will definitely help spread out defenses and Spurs guards some operating room on drives. He has a smooth release, a very quick and repeatable shot form as well as the ability to shoot the ball with a hand in his face. He’s a decent shooter off the dribble, but he truly excels at coming off screens, losing his man and getting himself squared and set before his shot.
While Johnson is a better athlete than he’s given credit for, he will still likely struggle guarding some of the forwards in this league. He isn’t quite quick enough to hang with them and stay in front, but does put in the work to be serviceable. With some help there and time with the Austin Spurs, he could end up being just fine on that end.
Shooting makes up for a multitude of sins in basketball, but with Cameron Johnson, there aren’t that many sins to worry about. He’ll have to put on some weight and get a little quicker, but that can be done. He would be an absolute steal in the second round and could be worth a reach with the Raptors pick in the first depending on how the rest of the draft shakes out.
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KELDON JOHNSON | G
6-6 | 215 lbs | 7-0 wingspan | Kentucky | Freshman
13.7 ppg | 5.7 rpg | 1.5 apg | 47.3 FG%
While Johnson primarily plays shooting guard, he could find himself moving over to small forward in smaller lineups and is strong to play there defensively. The 6-foot-6, 211-pound Wildcat would be a great defensive addition to the Spurs while his offense has been much better than people thought it would be up to this point.
Johnson can be a lockdown defender as he takes his assignments personally on that end of the floor. He has an NBA-ready body with good balance and length — he has a plus wingspan — to give his matchups a tough time.
He’s got a good IQ and when coupled with his elite defensive abilities, the sky is the limit on a Spurs team that values both those things.
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One knock against Johnson early in his freshman season was his ability to consistently hit shots. He certainly put that to rest as you can see from his percentages above. He has an above average mid-range game as well, which will surely excite some Spurs fans.
He has a nice floater to get his shot off over big men in the paint and he finishes well when he attacks the basket. He’s got a great first step and has a smooth-looking shot that improved over the course of his lone collegiate season. He’s also a solid passer and can handle the ball well enough to create for himself and others.
While this young player clearly has a lot going for him, he does have some deficiencies in his game. He has to be a little more assertive when it comes to taking his shot and he has to get better out of the pick and roll.
While Johnson is quite explosive, that can lead to him playing out of control at times and it has led to him picking up bad fouls. He will also need to improve his set shot at the next level and work on his footwork so his shot is not affected for the worse.
The former Wildcat will definitely be a guy the Spurs have to get at 19 as there doesn’t seem to be any way he lasts to the second round and definitely not to the 29th pick.
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MFIONDU KABENGELE | F
6-10 | 250 lbs | 7-3 wingspan | Florida State | Sophomore
13.2 ppg | 5.9 rpg | 1.5 bpg | 50.2 FG%
Florida State big man Mfiondu Kabengele — the name is already a bonus for the young man — is a 6-foot-10, 250-pound shot blocker, shot maker and still a somewhat raw prospect.
He has put up some pretty good numbers despite playing a reserve role for coach Leonard Hamilton’s team.
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50.2 FG%, 36.9 3P%, 76.1 FT%
28.9 PER, 120.5 ORtg, 92.9 DRtg
Kabengele not only has the size and strength you like to see in a player at his position, but he also has the pedigree being the nephew of the great Dikembe Mutombo.
He moves well at his size, wouldn’t really have to bulk up to play at the next level and is almost a blank slate to work with offensively and defensively. That is certainly going to be enticing for a team that could use a guy who is efficient on both ends of the floor.
The Seminole is a bit old in this draft as the redshirt sophomore is already 21. However, if a team is willing to be patient and save him for down the road, then the payoff could be huge.
He can protect the rim with his frame, athleticism and wingspan. He will struggle to defend on the perimeter a bit as he is a bit slow-footed in that regard.
The shooting from Kabengele might be his most surprising asset as he has shown the ability to knock down shots from all over the floor and is masterful in the mid-range.
The only downside for him in that regard is that he will fall in love with the jumper, especially if he sees a few go in. Thanks to his size, he can get that jumper off whenever he wants.
He’s got a great motor as well, which will make him an excellent rebounder at the next level as well.
Improving his passing ability and ball handling will be huge. If he can make serious progress on those two fronts, then he will be a force on offense.
As it stands now, he does not handle pressure on the perimeter well and tends to drive with his head down. Those are fairly fixable flaws with enough practice.
The ACC’s Sixth Man of the Year could get some first round looks should he impress in workouts and possibly the NBA Combine if he gets the invite.
He has the size and length you want in an NBA big man and is still a bit more mobile than the bigger guys in the league so he should be fine there.
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KZ OKPALA | F
6-9 | 215 lbs | 7-2 wingspan | Stanford | Sophomore
16.9 ppg | 5.7 rpg | 2.0 apg | 46.5 FG%
Okpala should go in the first round and he will likely be a top-20 as the Spurs cannot afford to let him fall to a later pick than the 20-spot they own.
While playing in a down Pac-12 and for a bad Stanford team, he did stand out and made it pretty clear he has NBA-level talent.
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]Here are some of his stats from the season:
46.5 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 67.1 FT%
18.3 PER, 103.9 ORtg, 101.2 DRtg
Okpala has the size and length you want to see in an NBA wing player and has the athleticism to play on the wing too. He can finish among the trees and has a really nice, soft touch around the rim.
His long strides and arms get him where he needs to go and he usually ends up within four or five of the rim where he can easily get his shots off.
He is a good three-point shooter when his feet are set and he is projected to be a solid shooter at the next level. Okpala only attempted three triples a game though so it’s a bit of a small sample size. He did drastically improve his shooting percentages from his freshman year though and that definitely bodes well.
Okpala has a few things to work on before he gets extended minutes for San Antonio though.
He can start by tightening up his handles as he is a bit turnover prone and can’t quite break down his defender to create his own shot.
He is good on a blow-by and attacking an aggressive closeout, but has a hard time getting by anyone in a set stance who moves his feet well.
However, he can start or finish a fastbreak, certainly a valuable skill as that makes him more versatile.
Getting stronger will help with his ball handling as well his playmaking abilities. He has shown flashes of being able to create for his teammates but didn’t have a game with more than five assists all year and the only one of those came in the first game against Seattle.
He wouldn’t be asked to create all too much for the Spurs with the other guards they have, but he will have to show the willingness and ability to pass when the team is penetrating, pitching and repeating until defenders are completely out of position.
The young man is a nice player right now with the potential to become a staple in someone’s rotation and be a solid contributor off the bench and eventually in the starting lineup.
Okpala has drawn comparisons to Trevor Ariza and a more fine-tuned Bruno Caboclo as of now. With some weight on him and some luck, he could be another Ariza, which would be a great get for the Spurs.
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ISAIAH ROBY | F
6-8 | 214 lbs | 7-2 wingspan | Nebraska | Junior
11.8 ppg | 6.9 rpg | 1.9 bpg | 45.4 FG%
Nebraska forward Isaiah Roby played well at the NBA Combine and helped himself quite a bit. The 6-foot-8-and-a-half, 214-pound forward is moving up some draft boards and might be a guy the Spurs look at with their 29th pick.
While his numbers don’t pop out at you, he was playing on a rough-looking Nebraska team and does have some discernible skills that can help an NBA team. Here are some of his stats from last season:
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45.4 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 67.7 FT%
19.7 PER, 105.6 ORtg, 96 DRtg
Roby is not a polished shooter by any means as of now, but that has been improving over the course of his career. However, he is an excellent shot blocker thanks to his timing and leaping ability.
He’s a good defender at his position and is a good rebounder to boot. He especially gets after it on the offensive glass and uses his athleticism well on both ends of the court to clean the glass.
Some things Roby does that would entice Spurs fans is that he plays well off the ball and can score well in that fashion. He’s a solid scorer off the dribble and even a decent playmaker who got to show that off a bit during the NBA Combine.
He tested very well among forwards — he measured with a 3.9 body fat percent — and got a shout out from ESPN analyst Jay Bilas who named him one of three players to stand out during the first day of the combine.
In his first combine scrimmage, Roby finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes. That’s pretty good considering the games are only 40 minutes and tend to be low scoring.
While his testing and offensive skill set seem to be fairly good right now, Roby will still need to go through some growth before he earns legitimate minutes with a team.
He has to tweak his shooting mechanics a bit, but mostly to speed up his shot and take a small hitch out of it. It didn’t affect his outside shooting too much as he really only took open threes off others’ drives and kick outs.
The former Cornhusker will also have to work on creating his own shot while also cutting down on turnovers. He can be undisciplined on defense at times, but that should be an easy fix if he were to land with the Spurs.
Overall, Roby would be a nice player to have, especially in the second round. The only issue is that he may not last that long with how he has been rising up mock draft boards. It might be a tough sell at pick 2, but if he shows out during his pre-draft workouts then there’s certainly a case to be made for him going that high.
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LUKA SAMANIC | F
6-11 | 210 lbs | 7-0 wingspan | Olimpija Ljubljan
7.5 ppg | 4.4 rpg | 0.8 Apg | 48.3 FG%
Luka Samanic’s value has skyrotteted in the last month, seeming destined as a second round flyer. He then seemed like a player the Spurs should target with their 29th pick and some mocks have him even higher now.
Samanic has a great feel for the game, is a mobile big man and has good touch around the rim. Unfortunately if you’re looking for someone to be a deadeye beyond the arch, Samanic is not that player, although he seems to have potential to become a better shooter, but currently he has been inconsistent in the Adriatic League.
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Much of Samanic’s ascent has to do with his performance at the NBA Draft Combine, where he displayed some NBA-ready skills. As a combo forward in the NBA, he’ll have some work to do in strength and conditioning, but he has a ton of potential. The 19th pick would likely be quite early to take him and a huge risk based entirely on upside, but at 29, with some time spend in Austin and getting his body in NBA shape, the future could be bright for the Croatian.
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MATISSE THYBULLE | G
6-5 | 210 lbs | 7-0 wingspan | Washington | Senior
9.1 ppg | 3.1 rpg | 2.1 Apg | 41.5 FG%
While the Spurs do not lack for wing players, it is never a bad idea to grab an extra one in case of offseason moves and especially one who is defensive-minded like Washington’s Matisse Thybulle. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard is a monster on defense and can guard the best wingmen on the opposing team and does. Here are some of his numbers for the season:
44.3 FG%, 33.6 3P%, 85.2 FT%
22.4 PER, 111.5 ORtg, 85.3 DRtg
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]Thybulle is an excellent defender as you can see from the numbers above and is stronger than his frame might lead you to believe. He’s a sneaky defender as he gets to balls while the handler is turned around or he gets quick steals by freelancing a bit within Washington’s zone. He cuts off passing lanes well and stifles ball handlers with his plus-size wingspan, quick feet, high motor and great instincts. While some people would knock the fact that he plays in a zone, there are actually plenty of zone principles at the NBA level. Most notably, the idea of help-side defense coming off their own man where Thybulle greatly excels.
The young man clearly has some concerns on offense as he doesn’t score much and is not known as a superb passer. However, he is a solid scorer off the dribble and on the move. He clearly is solid at the free throw line, but he does not get there often as he only shoots about two free throws a game. The Husky guard could find himself in a 3-and-D role for the Spurs as he is a great 3-point shooter when he’s set and waiting for a pass of dribble penetration. He has his hands ready at all times to shoot and has a decent shooting form that is easily repeatable.
One of the biggest assets that Thybulle has in his arsenal though is his basketball IQ. As great as he is defensively, there are some things he does well on the offensive side too. He knows when to cut, where to cut and how to create open lanes for his teammates. Those are some great ways to earn playing time even if you aren’t hitting shots. He’ll have to improve on the shot making aspect of his game for sure, but he should do plenty of other things well enough to warrant him getting minutes with more offensively-minded lineups in need of a defender.
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PJ WASHINGTON | F
6-8 | 230 lbs | 7-2 wingspan | Kentucky | Sophomore
15.2 ppg | 7.2 rpg | 1.8 Apg | 52.2 FG%
If the name PJ Washington is familiar then that’s because we profiled him last season as well. He’s gotten better since then and has really made some strides in his shooting stroke from last season, which would bode well for the Spurs.
Washington has greatly improved his shooting from all over the floor and it looks like his staying an extra year in school has paid off as he will likely become a solid first round pick.
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]His three-point shooting is a bit deceiving because of the amount he shot, however, he only took 21 all last season. Once he becomes more comfortable shooting from distance he will become an NBA-level power forward.
The sophomore was the anchor for the Wildcats this season and came up huge in some big moments for them when their heralded freshmen had fallen short. He’s a great mid-range shooter — something these Spurs can appreciate — and is a good free throw generator off the dribble and in the post.
There are a few stand out traits for the young man as he’s got a great wingspan, has good hands and has a good motor to boot. This, along with his light feet and agility allow him to be a good defender on the perimeter. He’s got an NBA-ready body and he can pound down low with anyone if it comes to that.
He can initiate the offense from the high post and has great vision at his position. Washington has an excellent understanding of the game and could be a perfect glue guy for this Spurs team.
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GRANT WILLIAMS | F
6-7 | 240 lbs | 6-11 wingspan | Tennessee | Junior
18.8 ppg | 7.5 rpg | 3.2 apg | 56.5 FG%
Grant Williams. He’s been a monster this season and is a huge reason the Volunteers sit atop the SEC and have only one loss on the season. He’s a 6-foot-7, 240-pound grown man playing the power forward position. He’s big, strong, smart and has a never-ending motor.
Williams could be a perfect small-ball four at the NBA level as the Spurs wouldn’t lose anything on offense or defense when he’s in the game. He bodies up big men well despite usually playing at a height disadvantage.
[expand title=”Show More” swaptitle=”Show Less” trigpos=”below” startwrap=”” endwrap=”“]However, if he were to guard true small forwards in the league he would likely struggle as he isn’t quite quick enough to guard them. But his size and strength would at least help him out a little bit there.
Offensively, the North Carolina native can be trusted in the post with the ball. He’s smart enough to get rid of it on a double-team and get it to the right guy and he’s got enough moves that he can either get to the rim or get the shot he wants. His mid-range game is excellent — something all Spurs fans surely love to hear by now — and he is a great finisher around the rim. He’s a good playmaker out of the post, but could certainly use some work on his ball handling, especially if he is going to be doing a good amount of it at the next level.
While the young man is a bit undersized and may be considered only an average athlete, he makes up for those perceived shortcomings with his intelligence, motor and shooting ability elsewhere on the floor. He’s the kind of player you want in your locker room and on the court. If the Spurs get him with their first pick, it would be a good pickup, but if they got him with the Toronto pick then it would be a downright steal.
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DYLAN WINDLER | F
6-8 | 200 lbs | Belmont | Senior
21.3 ppg | 10.8 rpg | 2.5 apg | 54 FG%
Belmont forward Dylan Windler’s season was ended by Maryland, but he did go out with a bang. He torched the Terrapins for 35 points and 11 rebounds on 11-of-23 shooting and was a matchup nightmare. While it wasn’t enough to win, it was certainly enough to get noticed by scouts and get some love on mock draft boards
Here are some of his stats for reference:
54 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 84.7 FT%
30.4 PER, 129.1 ORtg, 94.7 DRtg
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Windler has gotten better each year at Belmont and garnered a ton of defensive attention from other players this season because of his vastly improved game. That extra attention he demands on defense did not slowed him down and he actually improved off the ball because of it. He’s become an effective slasher and cutter, which has allowed him to become even more efficient in his scoring. He’s able to get so many cuts around the rim because of his ability to shoot, especially in spot-up situations where he excels. He not only shoots well from beyond the arc, but he has major range beyond the arc as you never see him hugging the line when he shoots it.
Stashing Windler away with a second round pick would be a great look for the Spurs and allow them to get him to Austin for some much-needed bulking up and experience playing at a higher level. Should he prove too good for that competition, then you can certainly expect a call up in his future. However, his defense will be the biggest thing to keep an eye on as he has not really seen NBA speed from guys he’s had to defend in his career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VspDO1zjXk
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