Rumors of the San Antonio Spurs having the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft “haven't died down,” according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Stein reported that some are questioning whether the pick will be exercised, even though Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields has publicly said the team wants to maintain the status quo.
San Antonio's 22-60 record shows they need an infusion of more talent to fuel a rebuild led by Victor Wembanyama.
The 20-year-old may have exceeded expectations as a rookie, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and an NBA-best 3.6 blocks while finishing as runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Apart from Wembanyama, it is hard to say whether Spurs have any real cornerstone players to partner him in the long term.
The team could find that player in the draft — with the No. 4 and No. 8 overall picks, the front office could give itself two chances in the lottery with the hope of hitting at least one of them — or it could pool those picks together and move even higher.
In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected the Spurs to select University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle and Providence guard Devin Carter.
One advantage of being aggressive in the draft, meaning making an offer centered primarily around picks, is that it doesn't significantly accelerate San Antonio's timeline or impact their payroll significantly.
However much the Spurs want to improve, trying to do so too quickly could put them in a bind and limit their long-term potential.
The New Orleans Pelicans made a big splash by acquiring Jrue Holiday from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013, shortly after Anthony Davis' rookie season.
At the time, the deal seemed like a home run for New Orleans, acquiring a dynamic young guard who had been an All-Star the previous year, but the Pelicans didn't live up to expectations, with Davis making just two playoff appearances during his time with New Orleans before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs shouldn't be in a rush to build a playoff contender around Wembanyama, and a draft-driven trade isn't necessarily an indication that expectations are that high.
