The San Antonio Spurs own one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but it's not their own. In a loaded draft class, the Spurs should be able to find high-end talent.
The San Antonio Spurs are one of the best drafting teams in NBA history. They lucked their way into top picks like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama, but they have also done their due diligence with later selections.
Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, and Derrick White were all steals. The list is even longer than that, so the Spurs have a track record of doing the most with what they have.
As a result of the trade that sent Murray to the Atlanta Hawks in 2023, the Spurs are owed a 2026 pick swap. They will also get an unprotected pick from the Hawks in 2027, as well.
If the season ended today, the Spurs would demand to swap picks, making the 17th selection. The Hawks, meanwhile, flipped the least favorable of their own and the Spurs' pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers last season for De'Andre Hunter.
After the dust has settled, the Spurs will get the best pick, the Cavs get the second-best, and the worst of the three picks will go to the Hawks. No reason for Atlanta fans to fear, as the Hawks are owed an unprotected pick from the New Orleans Pelicans.
At the time of writing, the Spurs will pick in the middle of the first round. The 2026 draft is expected to be one of the deepest classes ever, passing even 2025, so the Spurs should be able to land a high-quality player, barring a trade.
It's clear that the Spurs need shooting, and adding to their defensive identity wouldn't hurt, either. The best fits for San Antonio in the draft are AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson, and Cameron Boozer, although unless the Hawks slide, those players will be off the board by the time the Spurs pick.
Within the Spurs' draft range are players like Baylor's Tounde Yessoufou, Washington's Hannes Steinback, and Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg. All three players represent other countries in international play, although Lendeborg is an American citizen. He is also a senior player for the Wolverines, so there wouldn't be that long of a runway for the Spurs.
As they look to win now, that might be a good thing. Fans should be reminded that any loss the Hawks face is a good thing for the Spurs' draft chances.
Keep it posted to SpursRoundtable and Jonah Kubicek's Twitter for San Antonio draft news for the rest of the season.