The San Antonio Spurs are coming off of another season that ended in disappointment. Gone are the days where they were championship contenders each and every season. This year, the Spurs were unable to overcome the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs and went home early.
Now, the Spurs are heading into the offseason hoping to add a piece or two to help both now and in the future. That will all start with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
While the Spurs don't have a chance to get one of the elite prospects in this year's draft class, they could get a very solid player at No. 19. One player to keep an eye on could be Oregon center Bol Bol. He could very well be gone by the time the Spurs are on the clock, but his draft stock has been all over the place.
If Bol Bol is on the board when the Spurs are up, should they think about taking him? He has big potential, there is no denying that, but there are some major concerns about him.
Last season at Oregon, Bol suffered a foot injury that ended his season prematurely. Many big men in the past have seen their careers completely derailed due to foot injuries. He is adamant that he will be able to bounce back from it, but there are some teams that aren't so sure.
In the nine games that he was able to play, Bol put up massive numbers. He averaged 21.0 points per game to go along with 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Bol shot 56.1 percent from the field overall and knocked down 52.0 percent of his three-point attempts.
Standing in at 7-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Bol is very slim for his height. Some have brought up concerns about potential leg injuries due to his stature. His ability to shoot and defend have made some teams try to overcome their doubts about his future health.
San Antonio could certainly use a long-term answer at the center position. Jakob Poeltl was acquired in the Kawhi Leonard trade last offseason and has a lot of talent, but he might not be the centerpiece that the Spurs are looking for. Bol may have concerns, but his skill-set certainly appears to be the kind that teams could build around.
Should the Spurs consider taking Bol if he is available at No. 19? Absolutely, and there is no question about it. The talent is there and they are not going to find a better player with that selection.
Giving Gregg Popovich a piece like Bol could be the first step towards getting back to NBA Finals contention. San Antonio is missing a legitimate defensive presence, which Bol would bring to the table. His ability to stretch the floor would also fit well into the offensive system that they have in place.
Obviously, it doesn't seem likely that San Antonio will be able to get Bol with their selection. Trading up likely won't be a serious concern for the Spurs, but if he happens to fall in the draft, they should snatch him up without second thoughts.
Bol comes with risk, but teams that decide to pass on him are going to be very disappointed if he lives up to the talent and potential that he possesses.
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