San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
S.A. Sports Nation
Spurs have their eye on picking a wing with the 18th pick of the NBA draft.
It’s that time of year — a period where the NBA is preparing to incorporate a new batch of young talent that teams are hoping will rise to the challenge and become solid players for years to come.
The 2018 NBA Draft is June 21 with the Phoenix Suns holding the first overall pick. Most insiders expect the Suns to select Arizona Wildcats big man DeAndre Ayton first, with Duke’s Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic from Slovenia, or possibly Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr., the son of former Spur Jaren Jackson, selected by the Sacramento Kings second overall.
Meanwhile, unless they make a deal to move up, the Spurs hold the 18th overall pick in the draft. League sources tell the Express-News the Spurs, along with many other teams, are targeting an athletic wing in a draft class filled with guards and small forwards.
“Everyone wants a wing,” one NBA scout said. “And at 18, you’re going to get a wing easily. There are plenty of guys there.”
One name that could be high on the Spurs’ draft board is Texas Tech’s Zhaire Smith. Sources tell the Express-News the Spurs have been targeting Smith for a workout at the team’s practice site.
The interest in Smith is there, but he’s off the board or someone else falls, there are other wings the Spurs could select. In this week’s Off Topic, an NBA scout helps identify five players that could fit with the Spurs.
Miles Bridges, Guard/Forward, Michigan State
Bridges averaged 17.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in his sophomore season with the Spartans. The Spurs have the ultimate respect for Tom Izzo’s program — Bryn Forbes is currently on the roster — and will often scout Michigan State throughout the year to get a better feel for players; hence, they should be familiar with Bridges’ game. There are concerns about his ball-handling, but Bridges has shown he’s reliable from beyond the arc, finishing his career with the Spartans shooting 37.5 percent from three.
Scout’s take: “He’s a great catch-and-shoot- 3-point scorer. Physically, with a catch-andshoot 3-point scorer, you say he’s a 3-and-D (defender) guy, but he can’t guard wings. So, is he an undersized four at 6foot-7? He’s really bouncy. He’s really explosive. But a 6-foot undersized four.”
Availability: Most draft experts don’t see Bridges falling to the 18th slot. If the Spurs like Bridges that much, they might have to move up to draft him.
Mikal Bridges, Guard/Forward, Villanova
Villanova, coached by Jay Wright, is another Spurs-like program that won its second NCAA title in the past three years. If the Spurs are seeking a wing, Bridges could be an interesting option. The NCAA All-Tournament Second Team player averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in his junior season at Villanova. Bridges’ is a solid defender with the ability to shoot. Some scouts consider him the top wing player in this month’s draft.
Scout’s take: “He can defend the whole perimeter. Miles Bridges can’t defend the whole perimeter. So, you have a guy that shoots the three-ball better than Miles and can defend the whole perimeter, and he has his true position size (6-foot-7).” Availability: Bridges is high on plenty of draft boards, and most don’t expect him to fall below 15. Bridges is another player the Spurs will probably have to swing a deal to acquire.
Melvin Frazier, Forward, Tulane
If anyone can teach players about what it takes to excel at the next level, one-time Spur Mike Dunleavy Sr. is the perfect tutor. The former NBA coach is now leading the men’s basketball program at Tulane University, where he’s been able to monitor the development of Frazier the past two years. Though he averaged 15.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in his junior season, the praise of Frazier comes on the defensive end where he ranked 17th in the 2017-18 season averaging 2.2 steals per game. Some consider Frazier the most athletic wing in this year’s draft class. Scout’s take: “He can defend. His wingspan (7-2) differential is like plus-five, which is incredible. He can defend his position. He’s the type of guy (the Spurs) would pick. He’s the type of guy they’d take a chance on. He can’t shoot, but he can dribble. He’s a transition player. But you get him with (Spurs assistant coach Chip Engelland), work on his shot, bingo. You’ve got a guy with more upside than most of the other wings.”
Availability: If the Spurs stay at 18, “He’s going to be there,” one Western Conference scout said.
Chandler Hutchison, Forward, Boise State
Hutchison is one of the quiet names in this draft class. The Boise State product might not be the flashy type, but having stayed all four years in college to develop, he’s one of the most polished players most likely to be selected in the first-round. Hutchison averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his senior season with the Broncos. One of the most intriguing things about Hutchison is the fact he can handle the ball, as he’s often played the point-forward position at Boise State. Scout’s take: “He’s got the makeup. He’s 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan. His footwork isn’t really good, and he’s not athletic, but he’s athletic enough. He’s a great culture guy. He’ll fit in (the Spurs’) culture. He’s a good kid off the court. You shouldn’t have any issues with him. He wants to get better. He’s someone that will embrace your culture.” Availability: Though national reports suggest the Chicago Bulls “promised” to select the 22-year-old, if he’s available when the Spurs are on the clock, don’t be surprised the Spurs send Chicago looking in a different direction.
Jacob Evans, Guard/Forward, Cincinnati
With Derrick White, Bryn Forbes and Brandon Paul all on expected to be on the roster next season, it’s unlikely the Spurs would select a player like Evans, who is listed at 6-6. But then again, the draft can be hard to predict after the lottery sections. Evans is mentioned for his defense and ability to make good decisions, but his lack of assertiveness has raised some concerns among scouts. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native averaged 13 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his junior season with the Bearcats.
Scout’s take: “He defers to his teammates. He was the go-toguy on that team, and he deferred. He needs to be motivated. … Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) would be the perfect coach for him. But he can defend the whole perimeter. In fact, he’s one of the better defenders in college. He can shoot the three-ball, and he’s a straight-line driver. If the Spurs are switching a lot, he’s used to that at Cincinnati. He’s a guy that’s going to earn minutes as a reserve right away.” Availability: Evans is expected to fall in the 20-30 range. He should be available if he’s high on the Spurs’ draft board.