The Spurs’ 2024 NBA Draft options that would help Victor Wembanyama the most.
There may not be a team in the entire league with a brighter future than San Antonio Spurs head toward the 2024 NBA draft. The Oklahoma City Thunder certainly have a say in this matter with a million more NBA draft picks at their disposal on top of a young team already proving they can win 57 games in the regular season. But the Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, who looks like the potential next face of the NBA. Wembanyama was the third most viewed player on social media platforms this season, behind only LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
Wembanyama finished his rookie season averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. He did all this while posting a solid 51.9% field goal percentage and playing All-NBA caliber defense.
The Spurs already know he is a pillar and building block of the franchise. But now they need to build a cohesive roster around him. They can complete their group with their first-round pick, which has the fifth-best odds in the lottery. With this pick, they should target Nikola Topic, Reed Sheppard and Dalton Knecht.
Nikola Topic, Guard, Mega MIS and Crvena zvezda
Anything Spurs should do with their team has to involve how they can maximize Wembanyama’s skills and potential. A great way to do this is to find a point guard and perimeter creator who can help make him look easy.
The only players on their roster right now who can do this consistently are Tre Jones and Devin Vassell.
Jones and Vassell were first and second on the team in assists per game with 6.2 and 4.1 each. But Vassell continues to grow as a playmaker and could become a good passer, not a great one. Jones knows how to set the table on offense, but he’s not going to overwhelm as a scorer. He may be better in a backup role.
Nikola Topic could be the creator Spurs are looking for to pair with Wembanyama. Topic played well among the pros in the Adriatic League, one of the best non-NBA leagues in the world, for Mega MIS and Crvena zvezda. He averaged 17.9 points, 6.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Subject has playmaking abilities and enough burst to get in the lane and finish.
Nikola Topic’s explosive contraction seems underrated in the discussion his momentum, momentum, balance and flexibility are among the best in the class.
he is a top athlete with the potential to become a true elite athlete with strength development pic.twitter.com/CL707nMqxm
– Ben Pfeifer (@bjpf_) April 12, 2024
The biggest problem for Topic is that he’s not yet a very good three-shooter. His career mark of 24.7% from distance needs to improve for him to maximize his potential. But he shot 63% from two during his career as well as 87.1% from the free throw line. The indicators are there that he is and can be a good shooter. The Spurs should have him at the top of their draft list and hope he can prove those metrics correct.
Reed Sheppard, guard, Kentucky
If the Spurs want someone who has proven himself to be a good shooter, Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard could be their guy. Sheppard turned out the lights in his lone season in Lexington. He posted shooting splits of 53.6/55.5/52.1/83.1.
The Kentucky guard did this while averaging 5.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per 40 minutes while committing just 2.8 turnovers. Sheppard is both an elite catch-and-shoot guy and someone who can create off the dribble.
Considered an elite C&S, Reed Sheppard has made it known that he is just as elite off the dribble. Very comfortable mid-range shot, also showing some step-backs and three-way evasions. Arguably the best shooter in the class, his shooting versatility remains underrated. pic.twitter.com/LvNHdm7Zwx
– He’s not a Hooper. (@heisnotahooper) April 9, 2024
He’s one of those players who can fit in anywhere, including San Antonio. The Spurs badly need more shooting. They were 28th in the NBA in three-point percentage at 34.7%. Sheppard would help us enormously.
Dalton Knecht, forward, Tennessee
Another player who would bring more shooting to San Antonio is Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht. Knecht was arguably the biggest star in all of college basketball. He transferred from Northern Colorado to Tennessee and began playing in the SEC. Knecht scored 21.7 points per game with shooting splits of 45.8/49.9/39.7/77.2.
It’s best to play on the ball and create against a rotating defense. This would be a role he would play greatly in San Antonio.
Knecht has problems defensively, but he would have Wembanyama to cover for him. If the Spurs want more shooting on their team, Knecht could be the best available for them when they are in place. He would be a solid addition to their team.
