For a 15-55 team, this season hasn’t been considered a loss for the San Antonio Spurs. They saw either development or a plateau from their rotation players, which is always better than regression. Big man beginner Victor Wembanyamathe #1 choice of 2023 NBA Draftplayed as well as anyone could have hoped.
Ahead of another major offseason, the San Antonio Spurs are planned to have the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Subsequently, a franchise that could have the next face of the league has the possibility of adding a key element of its young core. That said, while several options seem to make sense for the Spurs with their lottery selection, one prospect suits them more than another.
Nikola Topic should be the next piece of the Spurs rebuild
Nikola Topic has been among the highest-rated prospects all season. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 201 pounds, the Serbian point displayed high-level processing and playmaking abilities on the court while playing for several EuroLeague teams.
Great playmaker
On offense, Topic’s best skill is his passing.
Whether in half-court or in transition, he will delight his teammates with the ease with which he finds them. This is the main reason why he is an ideal choice for Spurs. Often discussed, Wembanyama benefits from San Antonio improving its point guard play. However, so will his teammates – many of whom don’t succeed one-on-one.
As a pick-and-roll ball handler, Topic easily reads and manipulates the defense. He will be an ideal dance partner with Wembanyama and their other greats because of his rhythm, awareness, timing and feel. His ability to create 3s with his drive-and-kick ability also benefits Wembanyama. San Antonio needs to add more 3-point threats beyond him and Devin Vassell but it is easier to build around a facilitator than to develop a passer.
NBA comparisons
An effective jump passer, this skill gives Topic an NBA parallel to the Indiana Pacers point guard. Tyrese Haliburton.
Arguably the best facilitator in the league, Haliburton is like a quarterback for the Pacers, spreading the wealth while his teammates corral his passes. Haliburton himself has been compared to the Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash does not mean that the subject should be. But all three fit the mold of the floor general archetype. A ranking shared by the five-time assistance champion Chris Paulwho ranks third all-time in career assists (11,816).
Like Haliburton, 6-foot-5, Topic’s size is also notable. At this size, he will constantly see over defenses. This will help him find all his teammates in traffic, but should help him deliver accurate passes to Wembanyama, in particular.
One-dimensional scorer?
As a scorer, Topic is largely fine-tuned for attacks on the edge of transition or in the half-court. He does well in these circumstances, cleverly cutting a rug across the aisle or using his physicality to ensure he reaches the box. However, he will be a relatively one-dimensional scorer until he can consistently knock down a jumper.
With Wembanyama and Zach Collins‘Ability to shoot from beyond the arc, Topic should still be effective even when defenses are set. Plus, Topic has NBA reach even if the touch isn’t completely there. That doesn’t change the fact that scoring is his biggest concern at the next level. Not at all because he’s more fast than explosive and he’s an average ball handler.
This season, Topic averaged 16.4 points and 6.1 assists per game, shooting 49.8 percent from the floor. He also has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.3, an offensive rating of 120.5 and a free throw rate of 32.9%. These numbers help highlight his skillset, as he is a high IQ prospect who relies on his ability to get to the rim to impact the score.
Switch army knife
Defensively, Topic’s length and anticipation could make him a good individual and team defender. This is another area where size makes a difference. At this point the subject eclipses Tre Jones, who is only 6 feet 1 inch tall. The professional’s lack of size over the past four years lowers his defensive ceiling, especially with a team that prefers an intensive transfer scheme.
On the clock
A potential point guard like USC guard Isaiah Collier could have higher potential. Collier’s effort and consistency have been questioned, but he has elite two-way potential. However, Topic is more likely to play within himself and play a style that makes him easier to fit into their young core.
The nationality of the subject will be another attractive aspect of this choice. The Spurs had several foreign players on their roster during the Gregg Popovich era, including Wembanyama. That said, Popovich himself is half Croatian and half Serbian. San Antonio’s selection of Topic gives them an even greater presence on the international stage.
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