The San Antonio Spurs got blown out in Summer League play to the Golden State Warriors, and the way the Spurs went about their draft is being called into question.
The San Antonio Spurs lost their most recent Summer League game, getting blown out by the Golden State Warriors, 98-69. It's worth noting that neither of the Spurs' first-round picks suited up, as Jayden Quaintance won't play this summer, and Tarris Reed Jr. isn't playing in back-to-backs.
Still, the Spurs could have put up a fight! Only Hyunjung Lee and Emanuel Miller scored double figures for the Spurs. Meanwhile, Golden State was led by Lachlan Olbrich's efficient 13 points.
On defense, 11th overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg dominated for the Warriors. He secured two blocks and a steal. In his first outing, against the Los Angeles Lakers, he went six-of-six from the floor and four-of-four from 3-point range.
It should make the Spurs re-think their entire draft process.
Spurs Should Have Tried to Trade Up
Heading ionto the offseason, the Spurs needed a defeinsdve-minded forward who can knock down 3s to pair with Victor Wembanyama. They ended up with Tobias Harris, and also drafted Reed and Quaintance as depth pieces. Not bad pickups by any means, but they could have done so much better.
Lendeborg was the ideal draft pick all along. Granted, the Spurs would have had to trade up to get him, but they had the assets to do that. Even without giving up another player, they could have traded with the Warriors or a team picking ahead of them.
It hasn't all been bad for the Spurs this summer, but it's clear that they would have been better-served landing a player ready to win now. Quaintance is injured for at least the next six months, and Reed might be able to add some spot minutes, but there were forwards on the board ready to win now.
"I wanted to develop pro habits," Lendeborg said of his time at Michigan. "So I feel like I accomplished all those things in Michigan, and I locked into a different version of myself that I didn't know was inside."
The Spurs just weren't willing to give up the assets to get him.
Of course, you can't put a lot of stock into Summer League play, but one thing is certain: the players the Spurs refused to trade up for will be playing real NBA minutes, and the players the Spurs picked up will see the floor during garbage time.
