Mock Draft Has Spurs Add Height

As the 2024 NBA Draft draws closer and closer, the San Antonio Spurs remain at the center of it. With four picks overall and two in the top ten, the Spurs have the capital to add some of the best young talents in the world to pair with Victor Wembanayama.

The general consensus is that the Spurs will draft a point guard, and have been closely linked to Stephon Castle fourth overall. However, in a recent mock draft by The Washington Post, the Spurs go big, selecting Donovan Clingan and Cody Williams in the first round.

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We at Inside the Spurs have been vocal about how drafting Clingan is not a good idea, but his talent is undeniable and some mocks have him projected to go first overall. He is a tried and true player and winner with an NBA frame who will be ready to impact winning on day one.

Williams, on the other hand, is a streakier wing with a high upside. He has been linked to the Spurs and could upgrade their starting roster on both ends of the floor.

While the most glaring need in San Antonio is clearly a point guard, Ben Golliver thinks "San Antonio should address its glaring need for backcourt upgrades via free agency or trades," and not spend time developing a point guard, which often takes a whole season.

Instead, the Spurs should go all-in on talent who can win now, and the best center in the draft as well as one of the better wings makes sense, to some degree. If the Spurs can get a point guard via trade, like Darius Garland, who is ready to win now, selecting Clingan wouldn't be the "nightmare scenario" we previously called it.

Having Clingan and Wembanyama both start and then staggering two oversized and somewhat mobile bigs would present quite the challenge for their opponents, that much is undeniable.

However, the needs on the roster have to be addressed, and unless the Spurs know they can trade or sign a high-end free agent who will be a long-term piece (not Chris Paul!), then they should hold the line and use their picks in a more conventional manner.