The San Antonio Spurs will enter the NBA Draft Lottery with two picks, lthough they will most likley end up as eighth and fourteenth overall, preventng them from pairing Vctor Wembanyama with top prospects like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Baley, or VJ Edgecombe.
Still, there is plenty of talent to be had in the first round, and if the Spurs don’t trade up or out of the draft, they should be able to land a high-level rookie, bolstering their young core.
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In a recent mock draft published by CBS Sports, the Spurs select Kasparas Jakucionis eighth overall from the University of Illinois.
In his lone college season, Jakucionis averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. He shot 44 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from behind the arc.
At his best, Jakucionis is a high-level floor general who excels in the pick and roll, which sounds perfect for pairing next to Victor Wembanyama. However, his shot is shaky, although there is reason to believe it will improve.
He is not the best defender, although with Wembanyama or Jeremy Sochan playing next to him, that isn’t a major concern. What can’t be ignored is his turnovers. He averaged 3.7 per game over the season, and it never really improved as the season went on.
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Unlike the sure-fire stars at the top of the draft, Jakucionis is not guaranteed stud, although adding even more playmaking and talent in the backcourt surely can’t be a bad thing, especially if Chris Paul doesn’t return.
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