Category: Spurs NBA Draft

Too-early 2025 NBA mock draft has San Antonio Spurs taking large guard in lottery

Currently projected to take two picks in the ’25 draft’s lottery, B/R has the Spurs going for another guard.

It might be far too early for you, fan of the San Antonio Spurs, to be thinking about what that ball club will do when it comes time to make selections in the distant 2025 NBA draft. But despite the fact that it is literally most of a year before that big day rolls around for the Spurs’ front office to contend with, there is an entire mini-industry built around projecting those picks.

And among the best in the game of doing so is Bleacher Report NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, who has a pair of prospects already pegged for San Antonio in next summer’s draft. Currently projected to take two picks in the ’25 draft’s lottery, for the better of the two selections owed them by the Atlanta Hawks, Wasserman has the Spurs going for another combo guard.

That guard prospect, University of Illinois floor general Kasparas Jakucionis, has been turning heads of late. “Jakucionis’ stock is pointing up after a 37-point game against France and potential top-five pick Nolan Traore in the U18 European Championships,” writes Wasserman.

“He averaged 19.4 points and 5.3 assists for the tournament, showcasing his signature change of speed, pull-up for three-level scoring and creativity around the basket,” adds the B/R draft expert.

“At 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, Jakucionis is going to operate on and off the ball at Illinois, serving as a textbook combo with excellent size, enough ball-handling and IQ to play-make and dangerous shot making skill.”

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San Antonio Spurs projected to take stretch combo big in 2025 NBA draft lottery

The San Antonio Spurs are projected to control two lottery picks at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season.

The San Antonio Spurs are projected to control two lottery picks at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season. And there are already plenty of folks out there in the world of draft projections who have some ideas about how the Spurs’ front office ought to be using those picks.

As odd as it might feel to be worrying about the 2025 NBA draft just a few months after the 2024 version of the event, there are experts making a living doing this stuff year-long. Among the better-known and higher-regarded of them is Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, who has a prospect in mind for San Antonio at No. 11 overall, the latter of those two picks mentioned above.

That prospect would be big man Asa Newell, currently suiting up for the University of Georgia in his freshman season. “At 6-foot-11 with a live motor, … Newell should deliver immediate activity around the rim, easy baskets and putbacks to Georgia,” writes Wasserman. “He covers a lot of ground and loves to crash the glass and sprint the floor in transition.”

“But his developing 3-point stroke and post skill is what will help push him up draft boards in 2025,” adds the B/R draft analyst. “Newell shot over 41.5# from 3 during 21 Montverde games logged by Synergy Sports.”

“There should be plenty of NBA interest in an athletic 19-year-old energy big who can stretch the floor this early in his career.”

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San Antonio Spurs projected to take Texan guard in way-too-early 2025 NBA mock draft

San Antonio is seen as likely to pick with the ninth overall pick of the next draft; is this guard the selection?

The San Antonio Spurs have been projected to take Texan guard in a way-too-early 2025 NBA mock draft recently put out by Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman. San Antonio is seen as likely to pick with the ninth overall pick of the next draft via the selection of the Atlanta Hawks they currently control, and to net University of Texas shooting guard Tre Johnson with that pick.

Wasserman explains that the Spurs “could target one of the most proven freshman shot makers” currently playing at the NCAA level next season in Johnson, noting his jump-shot is a lethal one all over the court.

The Longhorns wing “is a threat from NBA range pulling up, stepping back or falling away” per the B/R draft expert.

“Eyes will be on his physical, playmaking and defensive development, as Johnson’s impact can be too dependent on hitting tough shots,” he adds.

“He should be expecting starter’s minutes at Texas, particularly after Dillon Mitchell left for Cincinnati.”

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Could the San Antonio Spurs draft a European guard in the 2025 NBA draft?

This could be the Spurs’ point guard of the future.

Could the San Antonio Spurs end up drafting a European guard in the coming 2025 NBA draft? If you look at a recent way-too-early 2025 NBA mock draft by Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, it very well could go down should the Spurs’ front office echo the selection made for the Spurs in that mock with what is currently being projected to be the No. 11 overall selection in 2025.

That wing, Lithuanian combo guard Kasparas Jakucionis, “has continued to stand out during youth tournaments overseas” according to the B/R draft expert. “He’s become a serious prospect with 6-foot-6 size, plenty of creativity, passing and confident, pull-up shot making.”

“Even with Illinois adding Kylan Boswell, Jakucionis should have a good opportunity to make plays as the shiftier guard off the dribble,” he adds.

“The … Spurs signed Chris Paul this offseason, presumably to help expedite the development of Victor Wembanyama and the team’s young cornerstones,” observes Wasserman.

“But the Spurs could finally add their long-term point guard in the 2025 draft.”

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San Antonio Spurs get predictably high marks for drafting Victor Wembanyama

It seems fairly obvious in the present, but with the benefit of hindsight, one can ignore the concerns over injury and speed of development.

What kind of grade do we think the San Antonio Spurs should get for drafting French forward sensation Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NBA draft? It seems a fairly obvious slam dunk in the present, but with the benefit of hindsight, one can safely ignore the real concerns over injury and speed of development for such a long and gangly NBA prospect.

But Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley gave it a stab anyway, and arrived at a grade that you might expect given what we saw from Wemby in year one. “Expectations were fully amped for his first go-round in the Alamo City, but no one knew for sure how the French phenom would fare,” writes Buckley.

“Turns out, all the hype was warranted,” adds the B/R league analyst. “His first NBA season, which he spent alongside a … less-than-stellar supporting cast, felt like the first chapter of basketball’s final evolution.”

“The hype train should have been more than Wembanyama could handle, if only because the expectations seemed impossible to reach,” suggests Buckley.

“Then again, extraterrestrials have their own definition of what’s possible, so maybe it shouldn’t have been surprising to see him live up to the buzz and then some.”

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How should we grade the San Antonio Spurs moves at the 2024 NBA draft?

Did they accomplish their goals for the night? And what would grade each individual pick?

How should we grade the San Antonio Spurs‘ moves at the 2024 NBA draft? Armed with two draft picks in the first round’s lottery and another pair in the second round, the stated goal of the team was to find the right supporting cast for rising star Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama.

By the time the dust had settled on the night, San Antonio’s front office had drafted University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle at No. 4, guard Juan Nunez out of Radiopharm Ulm at No. 36, and forward Harrison Ingram out of the University of Kentucky at No. 48 overall while trading away their No. 8 pick for future draft assets.

Did they accomplish their goals for the night? And what would grade each individual pick?

The folks behind the “SSPN: A San Antonio Spurs Podcast” YouTube channel did their best to make a draft report card for the Spurs. Check it out above!

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A look back at the San Antonio Spurs’ 2024 NBA draft

Now that the dust has finally settled, we can start to properly assess how the Spurs did.

Now that the dust has finally settled on what the San Antonio Spurs elected to do on the night of the 2024 NBA draft with their four picks in this summer’s big event, we can start to properly assess how the Spurs did.

Armed with a pair of picks in the 2024 draft lottery at Nos. 4 and 8, San Antonio had more than just first round picks to work with. They also had a pair of second round picks at Nos. 35 and 48 overall to help surround star Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama with winning talent. Did they accomplish their goals with the moves that they made?

After drafting three of the four picks and trading No. 8 overall for future draft assets, the folks behind the “SSPN: A San Antonio Spurs Podcast” YouTube channel put together a clip analyzing San Antonio’s draft as a whole.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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Spurs’ Stephon Castle is excited to play with Victor Wembanyama

Stephon Castle is already looking forward to throwing lobs for Wembanyama.

The San Antonio Spurs have selected Stephon Castle with the fourth overall draft pick. He will join Gregg Popovich’s rebuilding roster and will likely come off the bench for his first few months in the league. Nevertheless, there will be times when he’s sharing the floor with sophomore phenom Victor Wembanyama.

During his debut news conference with the media, Castle shared his excitement about sharing the floor with the Spurs’ budding superstar center. He also noted that he’s looking forward to developing a partnership with Wembanyama and throwing some lob passes up to him when the opportunity arises.

“It was fun throwing lobs to DC (Donovan Clingan,)” Castle said. “So I can only imagine what it will be like (with Wembanyama)…Just to know that’s going to be my future teammate now. I’m just really excited for what our future looks like.”

Castle will undoubtedly be given a long rope once the season begins. Popovich must let him play through his mistakes and continue developing while facing NBA-level defenses.

Nevertheless, having Wembanyama as a teammate should make things easier on both sides of the floor. Spurs’ fans will likely be excited to see the young duo take to the court and will be hopeful that Castle can develop into the long-term ball-handler for San Antonio.

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Brian Wright explains why the Spurs traded Rob Dillingham

Brian Wright explained why he traded the San Antonio Spurs eighth overall draft pick.

The San Antonio Spurs traded the eighth overall draft pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves. who selected Rob Dillingham. Brian Wright’s decision to trade away a lottery pick for future draft considerations caused a stir within the Spurs fanbase, as many questioned the decision-making when San Antonio is a rebuilding roster.

During a recent news conference, Wright explained his thought process behind the trade. He noted how he believed the deal gave the Spurs the best chance of developing and maintaining a competitive roster in the coming years. He believes the Spurs got good value from the trade, despite the questions it raised from outside the organization.

“Those decisions are always difficult ones,” Wright said. “You do all the work on the draft, and there’s (sic) definitely players that you like. But, you have to weigh the calculus on what’s best for, ultimately, the future. We felt like the package that we got was one that made sense to move off of the eighth pick for… I think just in isolation, in a vacuum, we felt like it was fair value for what the eighth pick was.”

Only time will tell whether Wright made the correct decision to trade the eighth pick. If Dillingham has an impressive rookie season for Minnesota, he will likely face criticism.

Nevertheless, Wright made a decision that he felt best and will be judged on how that plays out in the coming years. For now, the Spurs will be focused on incorporating Stephon Castle and Harrison Ingram into the roster and developing them into NBA-level talents that can complement Victor Wembanyama.

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Stephon Castle has already spoken to Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs rookie spoke with Gregg Popovich and Victor Wembanyama shortly after getting drafted.

Stephon Castle was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He joins the San Antonio Spurs with the hope of becoming their point guard of the future. Castle won the NCAA championship with the UCONN Huskies last season, helping Dan Hurley secure back-to-back titles. As such, Castle enters the NBA with a winning mentality.

Shortly after being drafted, Castle spoke with head coach Gregg Popovich and his new superstar teammate Victor Wembanyama. He will likely spend significant time with both of them in the coming months. However, they were clearly eager to get the ball rolling.

The Spurs media team has uploaded footage of Castle’s first conversation with Popovich and Wembanyama to the team’s YouTube channel. It shows the rookie on the phone minutes after having his name called and achieving his dream of making the NBA.

You can watch Castle’s first interactions with Popovich and Wembanyama after getting drafted by clicking on the embedded video above.