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The San Antonio Spurs have begun retooling after their brief time without being in the playoffs. The Spurs were most recently knocked out of the play-in game by the New Orleans Pelicans. It has now been three seasons since the franchise has been in the playoffs. San Antonio has notably added some versatile, lengthy players in recent years and has begun to establish an organizational identity.
The team will look to take another step forward this offseason. The franchise has a solid collection of draft picks which they will look to capitalize on. San Antonio holds the 9th, 20th, 25th, and 38th pick. While most of the focus will fall on the 9th selection, the Spurs must look to take advantage of each pick. Here are a few potential targets to watch with their later selections who have not gotten enough buzz thus far.
3 sleeper prospects for Spurs to target in 2022 NBA Draft
Bryce McGowens- SG Nebraska
If the Spurs are in search of a pure bucket-getter then Bryce McGowens should be their guy. He is a lanky 6’6” guard with solid athleticism and explosiveness. McGowens averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He has an intriguing ability as a scorer and the potential to be a true three-level scorer. The Nebraska product is a solid ball-handler who excels in the open court and can get above the rim.
There are some concerns with the efficiency and frame of Bryce McGowens. He is oftentimes thrown off by more physical defenders which will continue to be an issue at the NBA level. He is listed at 180 pounds and has a skinny frame. McGowens also shot just 40.3% from the field and 27.4% on three-point attempts this season. The lanky guard can have too much tunnel vision at times. He also is a little foul-prone on the defensive side of the ball. While it likely will take a few years for him to fully develop, Bryce McGowens would be an awesome addition to the Spurs' young core.
Jake LaRavia- Wing Wake Forest
A crafty forward who plays with a high IQ, Jake LaRavia has intriguing stretch forward potential. He stands roughly 6’8” with a 6’11” wingspan. The 20-year-old has a smooth three-point shot and can score off the dribble or as a catch-and-shooter. He spent two years at Indiana State before transferring to Wake Forest for the previous season. LaRavia increased all of his stats with Wake Forest averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.
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The forward is smart with the ball in his hands and also shot 38.4% on three-point attempts this season. He shot the lights out at the draft combine and is regarded as one of the best perimeter shooters in the entire class.
The biggest concern surrounding Jake LaRavia is his lack of athleticism. He lacks burst and vertical pop but is smart in his defensive positioning. He also has decent strength and good length. LaRavia would be a terrific fit on the Spurs and he seems a guy Greg Popovich will get the most out of.
Christian Braun- Wing Kansas
Another player who may lack the high-end potential but can be a seamless fit as a complementary role player. Christian Braun spent three seasons at Kansas where he improved and played a key role each year. He has an accomplished college resume which includes being a Big-12 All-Freshman, NCAA All-Region, and an NCAA Champion. In this past season, he averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He also connected on 38.6% of his three-point attempts.
One interesting storyline in his game is he attempted nearly two fewer three-pointers per game this season. After attempting 5.1 threes per game as a sophomore he had just 3.3 three-point attempts per game this past season. Regardless, Braun increased his three-point percentage from 34% to 38.6% this season. He also increased his scoring average from 9.7 points to 14.1 points per game this season. The growth in his ability to attack the basket was also intriguing.
While he will certainly be looked at to provide production on three-point attempts, this is not a major concern. Christian Braun plays a highly efficient, team-first overall game. He is not a terrific defender but gets the job done with his ability to compete. Braun is set to be a solid contributor to any NBA team and would be a seamless fit for the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs are likely still a few years from truly competing, but the pieces are starting to come together. The growth of Dejounte Murray has breathed life into the franchise and set them in the right direction. Adding a few key pieces around their current core would put San Antonio in a great spot moving forward.
