The San Antonio Spurs are in the midst of arguably their worst stretch as a franchise ever. After making the playoffs for 22 consecutive seasons, they've failed to quality three seasons in a row, with the last two ending with play-in tournament losses.
The Spurs are trying to return to glory with a new young core. Building with the core of Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Jakob Poeltl, among others, seems to be the vision for the front office.
Josh Primo was the Spurs' lottery section last year, and now they have three picks in the 2022 NBA Draft at Nos. 9, 20, and 25. San Antonio could either look to add three more talented young players to the core or put together a trade package. If the Spurs do pick at No. 20, here are some options.
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Best options for Spurs with No. 20 pick in 2022 NBA Draft
Drafting international players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili helped build a dynasty. Nikola Jovic is a unique and mostly unknown talent to fans in the United States, but he could be snatched in the latter part of the first round. Having stellar outside shooting at 6-foot-10 combined with his selfless attitude as a tremendous passer at that position would be a huge plus for coach Gregg Popovich.
The intangibles of Europeans entering the NBA are usually impressive. That asset would apply to Nikola Jovic as well, especially with the immense upside he possesses. Despite the lack of athleticism and leaping ability, Jovic has shown flashes of brilliance in attacking and finishing at the rim. The lack of size and versatility at the forward position of the Spurs could be addressed by Jovic, and the player development staff would prioritize him in the next seasons if he was the pick.
An unknown name to some, Jalen Williams is a wing who played three seasons for Santa Clara. Williams would bring instant scoring prowess off the bench for the Spurs. The cryptic tweets of Lonnie Walker IV after the season ended may look like a sign that he is looking for another home, so having a eplacement like Williams would be terrific for the squad.
Being more ball dominant and creating shots for himself, Williams could be the initiator of the second unit with Tre Jones and Josh Primo. Similar to the role of Tyler Herro with the Miami Heat, Williams could emulate his role as the spitfire shot creator. It is just not the scoring skill set of Jalen Williams that attracts scouts, but it is also his willingness to involve his teammates when defenses focus on him.
Jake LaRavia
Jake LaRavia was projected as a second-round pick on the early 2022 NBA Draft boards. That has changed over the last few months because of his fit on a plethora of teams that run a modernized system. LaRavia would be an incredible stretch 4 to play alongside Jakob Poeltl in the starting frontcourt of the Spurs. Furthermore, it is the intelligent and quick decision-making that has caught the eyes of other teams as well.
When drafting at this juncture, some organizations would decide on the most talented player left, but the attitude and competitiveness are some of the few traits that the Spurs would heavily consider. LaRavia has the rare breed of being a high-level passer with his size, which could make him an initiator from the pinch post or elbow. LaRavia's physical attributes and ball handling still need to be enhanced, but his rising stock has been something that San Antonio has noticed over the past weeks.
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