With the NBA Draft in almost a week, the big picture should start to become more apparent to Brian Wright and the Spurs front office. There are some special players on this young roster, but there are a lot of issues, and it’s the draft where those issues can be resolved, with the Spurs owning the fourth and eighth overall picks.
Now, even if the Spurs can address some of the thumb issues, some current roles will be significantly reduced with new additions to the roster. Here are three Spurs who will lose minutes to the NBA Draft. For simplicity’s sake and despite rumors, we’ll assume everyone under contract remains on the roster for next season.
The third-year forward started 59 games last season to allow Keldon Johnson to be a scoring leader off the bench, and neither role worked for either player. Johnson struggled to lead the second unit, and Champagnie was really in the lineup to only provide spacing and outside shooting, which he didn’t do consistently.
There is a big war among fans over which of the Spurs’ needs is more important: a dynamic point guard or a long 3-and-D wing, and with two high lottery picks, both needs can be met. San Antonio can draft a forward in a very talented wing class that includes players like Zaccharie Risacher, Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Cody Williams, Dalton Knecht and Tidjane Salaun. Selecting any of these players would potentially result in Julian’s role disappearing entirely.
Aside from Risacher, it’s more than likely that all of the previous players should be available by the time Spurs are on the clock. Now, while the highest ceilings of these guys belong to G-League Ignite forward Ron Holland, we know the Spurs. have some interest in Frenchman Tidjane Salaun.
Regardless of the outcome, drafting any top prospect immediately makes him the starter on a roster where wing talent is at its lowest in recent memory. This allows Keldon to take over the reins in what is a “proving year” for the sixth-year forward and eliminates Julian Champagnie’s minutes.
