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ESPN - Chad Ford's Mock Draft, Version 6.0: Picks 1-30 - NBA

"The skinny: The Spurs got burned by Tiago Splitter (their 2007 first-round pick), but that won't stop them from grabbing Ante Tomic here. His skills remind some of a young Pau Gasol. He needs to get stronger and continue developing, but this would be a value pick for them. And the good news for San Antonio is that Croatian teams don't pay nearly as much as Spanish teams.

The Spurs are also trying to move up into the mid-first round for a shot at Robin Lopez. "

Already posted, but yeah, getting Lopez would be quite nice.

A big stiff like Robin Lopez would represent another disastrous draft for the Spurs. They desperately need an athletic, sharpshooting SF. That should be their first priority. Horry and Finley are too old and unreliable; they MUST be gone. Bowen is aging, and he is a streaky shooter - and that only from the corners. Barry is aging, and is a better 2 than 3. Udoka is not real quick, and his scoring ability is unproven. Big men the likes of Lopez are nothing to get excited about and don't address the Spurs' most glaring needs. If they move up, it should be for Brandon Rush.

Lopez probably won't be a "big stiff" because of his mobility, toughness, energy, defense, rebounding, offensive difference, finishing, and untapped offensive potential (wasn't asked to score much in college with Brook there).

I'll take that on this team, and we could use more size and agility and defense and rebounding and youth up front next to Duncan (aside from Mahinmi, questionable getting younger up front with FA). I think soon Lopez and Mahinmi would be better offensively than the bigs we've had. Now for more offense, along with defense and rebounding, Hendrix or White are the way to go in the 2nd round. But obviously if we take Lopez in R1, were probably not going to take another big in R2.

Overall, I'd definitely be excited about adding Lopez to this team.

And, athletic jumpshooting big men aren't around for us in this draft, unless we'd draft Wayne Chism in the 2nd round (Tennessee big foward with long range, may have entered the draft), or DJ White in the 2nd round (mid-range jumper).

Who knows if we'll actually move up in general, anyway.

I agree moving up it should be for Rush over Lopez, but I would still definitely be happy about getting Lopez. I think he'll translate to the NBA, and I expect would be a good role-playing big man in this league.

Bottom line here, I'll be happy with our draft as long as we get a versatile wing ,and a big man with defense in his game, and preferably offense, too.

Role-playing big men are not rare commodities, not what the Spurs' greatest need is, and certainly not what you move up in the draft to secure. Neither one of the Lopez boys is going to be anything but a journeyman-caliber player in this league. Similar types may be around in round 2. The Spurs need offense. I hope and pray that Pop will give Mahinmi more time than I expect and that he contributes more than I expect. And I hope and pray that the Spurs do better than their usual - which would mean drafting 3 guys who they cut before the season. The Spurs have a mentality that their picks are not assets either of themselves or as trade material. That is killing them.

Mahini will be our "cross-our-fingers" big this year. He's got the raw athleticism and potential. We need a proven guy that we know can do something, anything. Something we can count on. I still think we should go for a productive college player that fills a role of SF/SG which there seems to be a lot of in this draft. Let the lottery teams and teams ahead of us clean out the high-potential players in that position. Let us pick up the proven producer. 3rd year of 4-year college player maybe. Smart, athletic and productive. That's what I want.

Lopez isn't a stiff but I would rather get Batum.

Indeed ^

I also like CDR or Lee as consolation prizes for 1st round pick range versatile wings...

seems like batum it is today.

^ Maybe not. The Spurs have oppenly said that their 26th pick overall is up for grabs by any team for cash considerations. Basically, they said "WHO WANTS IT?" Let's go KP! Git 'Er Done!

Smoke screen

Blame Rasho wrote:Smoke screen

^^ Agreed. The Spurs have too many needs to sell the picks for cash considerations. Just draft smart if you're the Spurs.

SD2042 wrote:

Blame Rasho wrote:Smoke screen

^^ Agreed. The Spurs have too many needs to sell the picks for cash considerations. Just draft smart if you're the Spurs.

We are not PHX...

Well PHX picked him... maybe it was a Spur Decoy to make them pick him...

Kerr is an undercover Spurs Spy

The Spurs selected George Hill. Outside of this guy's position of PG. Who the hell is George Hill?

I dunno...

The average person would think someone like CDR would've been the more reasonable pick at #26.