Since the Spurs have four draft picks in the 2022 draft, Spurs fans seem to be very concerned about every mock draft before the June 23 draft date. While the mock draft offers a very wide range of options, several players are frequently selected by the Spurs in the mock draft.
Of course, some of these players are relatively more suitable for the Spurs, but who are they? As the draft approaches, let's see if the three players who are often selected by the Spurs in the mock draft are worth pursuing or should be given up.
1. Benedict Martilin Scoring guard
Bleacher Report (Open-air stand) Predicting that Arizona defender Benedict Martilin will be selected by San Antonio in the lottery area and he will be an interesting candidate. Mathurin, who is 6-foot-6 inches tall and 6-9 inches wings, has a good size on the wing position and has the skills to become a scorer above the NBA average. Additionally, at Arizona, he often plays with the ball and has proven to be extremely creative in pick-and-roll.
Mathurin is very good at using hesitation to make the big guy who is nailing him in place in the future and then easily pass them. Once he enters the paint area, he will show his super strong air stagnation, and his explosive athleticism allows him to defeat any opponent who dares to stop him at the basket.
Not only that, Marty Tulin has also proven himself to be an efficient empty cutter who can easily score points in positional battles with off-ball offense, this shooting choice has given him an impressive 52% of his two-point shooting percentage, and Marty Tulin is also an excellent outside musketeer. In fact, he averaged 6.1 3-pointers per game, shooting up to 35% from the field, and not just fixed-point shots. He can find open spaces through running and using running screens to get many three-pointers, predicting that he will become an above-average three-point shooter, coupled with his ability to create shots, these advantages can give him a stable output on the offensive end.
Regarding his potential fit in the Spurs, he will have some overlap with Lonnie Walker (if he renews his contract), but Martilin has a higher ceiling, so Walker may end up being a victim. The Spurs prefer players with stronger shooting ability, creating shooting opportunities and scoring ability, and if he can do these three things, it means he has a chance to eventually enter the starting lineup. So should the Spurs win him at the ninth pick? If he hasn't been selected yet, the answer is yes - considering that he may be the best player to be selected.
judgment: pursuing
2. Nikola Jovic Small forward
6-foot-10-inch small forward Nikola Jovic is one of the most attractive players in the 2022 NBA draft, but his evaluation of him is also polarized. He is also often predicted to be selected by the Spurs. Jovic will make Spurs fans feel familiar because they often compare Jovic with 2019 rookie Luka Shamanic. San Antonio put the bet on Shamanic and his comprehensiveness, but the gambling proved to be a failure. Of course, Jovic is still different from him, but it is questionable whether his special game style can be fulfilled in the NBA arena.
After all, he plays like a defender, and few people can combine tall figure and excellent creativity like him, which is also his attraction. Jovic is good at creating opportunities for himself and others in pick-and-roll, and his size allows him to shoot in front of defenders and have a better field of vision, making it easier to complete accurate passes.
Although he averaged only 35.1% of 3-point shooting percentage with 4.8 shots per game, he can shoot with the ball, even including pulling three points, which shows that he can become an excellent shooter.
SB Nation is expected to be selected by the Spurs at the 20th overall pick, and his shot should be cashed in to the NBA and help the Spurs. Given his potential and having many first-round picks, it makes sense for the Spurs to consider him. In other words, Jovic won't play so much ball-holding in San Antonio, which will force him to adjust his game.Still, the Spurs are probably the best team for him to play his shooting and organizational skills.
judgment: pursuing
3. Joan Montero defender
6-foot-2 point guard Joan Montero was predicted by CBS Sports to be selected by the Spurs with the Raptors, and he has exciting prospects. Honestly, I'm not very cold about the Spurs choosing a fifth point guard in their last seven drafts, but Montero does have a lot to like in the game.
This 18-year-old player has the ability to enter the penalty area. He can rely on dribbling or speed to pass the defender to create breakthrough space. He also has good performances in jump shots and can even hold three points, which is a valuable skill for any defender, especially those who are outstanding. As an organizational player, Montero has shown high potential, but he still needs to learn how to balance his personal offense and teammates.
This is all good, he can have a bright future, but San Antonio already has Trey Jones who plays well, and he looks like he can become the team's future substitute point guard. Also, I'm not sure if Montero will be the best youth player. Although tempting, the Spurs should probably turn their attention to other players.
judgment: Give up
Overall, there are many potential stocks in this draft, and it is no problem for the Spurs to gain some outstanding young backbones, especially Matilin and Jovic if they are available. However, I can't guarantee that they will do it, especially if the Spurs sign up or the team wants to trade some draft picks up. In other words, no matter who the Spurs choose, they have great hopes that they will exceed expectations.
(text/Johnny Moore)
