NBA Draft 2011: Jordan Williams and 10 Best Prospects for the San Antonio Spurs
With the 2011 NBA Draft just days away, more speculation surrounding who the San Antonio Spurs will select with not only the 29th overall pick, but with their late round picks as well, has started to appear on message boards and fan sites alike.
This list will seek to examine 10 prospects who could possibly make the biggest impact for the Spurs upon being drafted by the team.
Jordan Williams
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Maryland big man Jordan Williams stepped up big time for the Terrapins last season after the team lost Greivis Vasquez, its superstar, and, in doing so, became one of the ACC's best centers.
He led Maryland in points and rebounds as a sophomore last season and has developed a strong jump shot that could eventually help the Spurs replace their aging future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. In drafting Williams, the team would give itself an athletic backup to Duncan and gain size down in the post as well.
Fans can't expect Williams to play anywhere near the way Duncan has for all these years, but a few years of tutelage under Duncan could turn Williams into a strong player.
Darius Morris
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Darius Morris, a 6'5", 190-pound point guard out of the University of Michigan, could be an excellent addition to the Spurs because he has shown the potential to become one of the league's best passers and would be an excellent complement to combo-guard George Hill.
Morris led the Wolverines by averaging 15 points per game and 6.7 assists per game, something the Spurs would welcome to San Antonio. He is also an excellent ball-handler and has the capability to create passing lanes due to his size and wingspan.
During the first few seasons of Morris' career, the Spurs wouldn't need to heavily rely upon him because they'll still have players such as Tony Parker and Hill, so, at least for the first few years, he would be a serious threat off of the bench.
Nikola Mirotic
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The Spurs need a strong, versatile player in their front court, which is a role that Nikola Mirotic could provide them if they choose to draft him with their No. 29 pick.
In addition to gaining to player with a strong perimeter shot, the team could also try to develop Mirotic into a strong post player and improve his interior game by letting him learn from Duncan, a move that would definitely not hurt Mirotic's game.
At only 20 years old, Mirotic is a bit of a gamble for the Spurs, but if he can improve his game down low and continue to be almost automatic from the perimeter, he will improve the team drastically in the near future.
JaJuan Johnson
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As has been a theme throughout this slide show, the Spurs, in drafting JaJuan Johnson in the first round of this year's draft, would provide themselves with a strong front court player who is very capable of filling in for the aging Duncan and sometimes inconsistent Tony Parker.
Johnson would have time to learn from Duncan and could develop into one of the league's best power forwards. He has already shown that he has developed a strong interior post game and, with only a few years of development, could help the Spurs fill the void on their in order to return to the NBA Finals.
Tobias Harris
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After watching the Spurs much of last season, it became evident that head coach Gregg Popovich wasn't behind DeJuan Blair at all times, so the team may opt to select Tobias Harris with their No. 29 pick.
Harris, listed at just over 6'7", would be one of the league's smaller power forwards, which does make him a bit of a gamble for the Spurs, but he has proven that he can still shoot well enough to earn a spot on the Spurs' roster.
If Harris is still available late in the first round, the Spurs could take him and hope to develop him into a future replacement for Richard Jefferson and a stronger player than Blair.
Kyle Singler
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It seems as though many NBA scouts are still trying to decide whether or not Duke small forward/ power forward Kyle Singler will be an effective player in the pros.
Last season, Singler averaged 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists for Blue Devils and improved his mid-range shot and ability to bring down rebounds on both the offensive and defensive end. However, scouts are still trying to determine Singler's overall athletic ability, strength and quickness.
Even with the questions surrounding his draft stock, the Spurs should consider drafting Singler, one of the best players to ever take the court for Duke, if he is still available at No. 29.
Jeremy Tyler
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Jeremy Tyler, a 19-year-old power forward who dropped out of high school to play professional ball in Israel, has taken a non-traditional route to the NBA, yet may be one of the top under-the-radar players in this year's draft.
Tyler would be, in no way, Duncan's heir, but does posses the tools to become a superstar in San Antonio. At 6'11" and 263 pounds, Tyler has what many scouts consider to be elite size and could be groomed into a strong big man down low.
He's lacked good coaching throughout his young career, in that he has spent times overseas in both Israel and Japan, so a season or two under Popovich could be all the young power forward needs to achieve what many thought him capable of after his junior year of high school.
Trey Thompkins
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University of Georgia forward Trey Thompkins would be an excellent addition to the Spurs' lineup, provided he is still available when the team is due to make their pick.
Thompkins secured a lot of offensive rebounds for the Bulldogs last season, but also proved that he could corral bad passes and make plays down low as well. He also possesses a strong hook shot and can hit shots from beyond the arc if needed.
Thompkins has also shown his defensive skills, as he is capable of grabbing a rebound or blocking a shot down low.
Davis Bertans
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The Spurs have, historically, loved taking foreign-born players in the NBA Draft, which is why Davis Bertans has landed on this list.
Bertans, a 6'10" forward from Latvia, has proven he can shoot from way beyond the arc and may serve as a good replacement for the Spurs at power forward some years down the road. Bertans has also excelled at creating shots off the dribble and is one of the more aggressive players in this year's draft.
Bertans could become the next great foreign born Spur, given a few years of playing time under Popovich, if the team elects to take him in the first round.
Chris Singleton
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Florida State standout Chris Singleton had surgery on his fractured foot in February, which has caused his draft stock to fall. Currently, he is projected as a mid-first round pick, but, if he falls into the late twenties, Singleton could be another draft steal for the Spurs.
Singleton was one of the most elite defensive college players last year, as he can defend both the post and the wing, as well as force his opponents into taking tough shots. Singleton is a decent shooter as well, although his lack of ball handling skills do hinder his ability to create shots down low.
If Singleton drops because of his aforementioned injury, watch out for the Spurs to nab the shutdown defender and drastically improve their team.
