Fans of the San Antonio Spurs can be forgiven if their eyes have drifted towards the action unfolding in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, given the rest of the Spurs’ 2023-24 season is something closer to an extended development session in terms of what goals are left to accomplish.
But there are more reasons to keep an eye on the tournament, with San Antonio armed with a bevvy of picks to use in the 2024 NBA draft on players currently showing out in the tourney. And that is exactly the mission of Bleacher Report’s NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, who has a player in mind for the Spurs with their 2024 first round pick — even if an early tournament exit has robbed us of some potential data to evaluate him further.
That prospect would be Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, a 6-foot-3, 19-year-old combo guard who could be compared to Kirk Hinrich. Shooting over 50% from deep on high volume, Sheppard has shown “enough burst and floater touch for NBA teams to consider the possibility that he can be effective for stretches in a lead-guard role.”
Which young San Antonio Spurs players around Victor Wembanyama will be there for the long haul? https://t.co/sMxYi9ebb1 pic.twitter.com/173P3x0cof
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While some teams may pass for other top talents, Wasserman believes that his “the translation of elite shooting, finishing craft, skill set for on/off-ball offense and IQ for passing and defense” would make him an ideal target for the Spurs.
Such players tend to fit well in San Antonio’s system and could grow next to Victor Wembanyama as part of a future Spurs dynasty — if Sheppard is available, San Antonio should pounce.
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