Since the Spurs have won 3 of the last 7 championships, I thought it worth a look to see how excellent their drafting record is. Here are the results: 1995 29 Cory Alexander No Round 2 Pick 1996 26 No Pick No Pick 1997 01 <b>Tim Duncan</b> No Pick 1998 24 Felipe Lopez Derek Dial Lopez traded for Antonio Daniels 1999 29 Leon Smith 57 <b>Manu Ginobili</b> traded for Gordon Giricek 2000 No Pick 41 Chris Carrawell 64 Corey Hightower 2001 29 <b>Tony Parker</b> 56 Roberto Rytas 63 Bryan Bracey 2002 26 John Salmonds 56 <b>Luis Scola</b> traded to Philly 57 Randy Holcomb (traded to Philly) 2003 28 Leandro Barbosa traded to Phoenix 2004 28 <b>Beno Udith</b> 53 Romain Sato 58 Sergei Kasalov NOT EXACTLY OVERWHELMING IS IT?!
When you have a Tim Duncan, all your draft picks look good. Just like when you have an Hakeem, a Barkley, and a Drexler, guys like Matt Maloney look good.
What are you talking about? Spurs had been picking after 20th most of the time, and they got Cory Alexander, Lopez, Ginobilli, Parker, Scola, Barbosa, Udith, these are very good picks. These players are all Rotation players and Spurs got at least one every year, and all are from after the 20th pick. Now if the Rox can pick one rotation player at 24th this year, I would be happy, but who knows.
By my count they got 3 starters (Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili) and 1 rotational player (Udith) in 10 years. By all accounts, Scola will be a good fit if/when he comes over. That's five total and not one out of every draft. That would need to be 10. Antonio Daniels was a keeper too... although they got rid of him. Barbosa was traded to Phoenix for a future first rounder.
TD is not just a starter. Ginobili is an all star caliber. Parker is just below that. When you have three players like that, it is much easier to fill your roster. Imagine if Rockets have one PF that is just below all star.
Antonio Daniels? Rox has been trying for years to get him. Spurs got rid of him for cost purpose. From your list, except in the year 2000, Spurs made at least one good pick every year. They either kept the pick or trade the pick for future 1st rounder. Even in year 2000, they don't have a first rounder. The truth is, Spurs did not miss much for first rounders and often found gems in second round. Their drafts are much much better than Rox
other than duncan and ginobili it's not star studded. but guess what they mostly kept their picks and got good role players that built championship squads. CD needs to realize you can still use late 1st round picks to improve your team.
As noted Lopez was traded for Daniels. The Lopez pick was a pick for another team made by that team so basically the Spurs drafted Daniels. Leon Woods was a pick made by and for Dallas. Spurs asked Dallas to draft Giricek for them in the second round. He was stashed in Europe and eventually rights were traded to Memphis for a pick. Javtokas (not Rytas that's the team he plays for) was a very promising player until he got into a bad motorcycle accident in Europe and lost some of his athleticism. Salomon was a pick made for Philly in excahnge for Speedy Claxton a key component of the Spurs 2003 championship team that they couldn't resign. Barbosa was a pick made for Phoenix in exchange for a future first round pick. That pick was eventually parlayed into unloading Malik Roses cotract and acquiring Nazr Mohammed a key component in the Spurs 2005 championship. Scola will be coming over next year. He's currently viewed as the best big man in Europe. When it comes to the draft the Spurs are in a class by themselves. Nobody else is a close second. Think Eddie Griffin.
Here's a review of the Spurs' pick. He sounds like Badiane. http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/ianmahinmi.asp Can you keep first-round picks abroad? What did Dallas do with Nowitzki? I hope the Spurs are forced to bring him over immediately. Although he'll probably amount to something before he becomes a free agent, unfortunately.
The Spurs do have the best international scouts. A lot of teams pick international players in the second rounds these days and so far none of those picks have worked out. The Spurs already had a steal in Ginobili and another one of their second rounders, Louis Scola, was one of the best big men in Europe last year and will likely be in SA and have an impact next season.
