NBA Draft 2019: Mock Draft 3.0

Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford got to watch gleefully this past week as their former apprentice led another franchise to an NBA title. In what may not amount to much consolation, the Spurs will get the Toronto Raptors’ first-round pick via the Kawhi Leonard trade.

This is the Spurs, however, and late-round home runs are very much their thing. San Antonio’s current roster is relatively deep and balanced, however they are short on high-ceiling talent. Taking a flyer on Luka Samanic with this pick could be a long-term gain for a team looking for its next-generation star.

Samanic — at 6’11” — has flashed glimpses of being a rangy stretch big. He has fluid movement for a player of his size; runs well in transition, and can put the ball on the floor in halfcourt sets.

But much about Samanic is unknown. Freshly 19, he is both raw and scrawny; he often has difficulty stringing his talents together.

Strength and agility training would appear to do wonders for Samanic; as would being implanted in the Spurs’ culture of seemingly innate success. They have taken a plethora of no-name Euros and turned them in serviceable-to-great NBA players.

San Antonio will likely continue its streak of playoff appearances with (presumably) both their point guards healthy this year. As such, they will be a low-pressure system in which Samanic can be brought along slowly, and learn from a great coaching staff.

He will be of little impact for several years, but the Spurs know that this pick is for the future, not the present, and drafting a high-upside Euro would be so San Antonio.