In the upcoming 2010 NBA Draft, Georgia Tech freshman power-forward/center, Derrick Favors is considered one of the best players in the draft and will most likely be drafted in the top four. More than likely, Favors will fall to the New Jersey Nets who hold the third pick overall.
On the other hand, the San Antonio Spurs hold the 20th pick in the first-round and will have no shot at drafting Favors. But did this stop the Spurs from reaching out and talking with him? Not at all.
According to HoopsWorld, the Spurs met with Favors at the 2010 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
You would expect that Favors, who is arguably the fourth-best talent in the draft class, would be talking to the top 8 to 10 teams, and if you looked at his interview list you’d be right. However there was one team that jumped off the page for Favors – the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs hold the 20th pick in the first round and have no shot at drafting Favors as they stand, but they met with him yesterday which is sure to fuel the trade speculation.
The article goes on to state:
If a team has interest in a player, they would want to meet with that player before giving up assets to move up in the draft, and just because a team meets with a player outside of their range, that does not mean they will meet the price tag to move up.
But Derrick Favors meeting with the San Antonio Spurs is interesting, especially when the New Jersey Nets have been floating that they would consider trading the third overall pick for the right kind of veteran . . .
Take it for what you will Spurs fans but I find this interesting. Is this just Popovich being “Popovich?” Is the Spurs front-office working their NBA Draft “magic” again or is this a case of “where there is smoke, there is fire” especially with trade rumors involving Tony Parker.