The San Antonio Spurs have long been one of the best drafting teams in the NBA, and a recent trade report only highlights how successful they have been.
It's no secret that the San Antonio Spurs are the best drafting team in the NBA. Sure, they had some easy picks, like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama, but what about Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Dejounte Murray, and Derrick White?
The Spurs are historically the best late-round drafters in the entire NBA. Stephon Castle was picked fourth overall in 2024, but he has already exceeded any expectations.
Keep in mind, the class of 2024 was billed as rather weak, sandwiched between Wembanyama's 2023 and Cooper Flagg's 2025. Even with a lackluster class and limited good options, the Spurs were able to walk away with a budding superstar, and recent trade rumors suggest the Spurs did more than pick the best player in the class: they avoided a disaster.
No. 1 Pick Is Already On The Trade Block
The Atlanta Hawks, with the top pick in the 2024 draft, had a choice to make. French center Alexandre Sarr, or French wing Zaccharie Risahcer? Sarr was the consensus top pick up until the final few weeks leading up to the draft, and the Hawks balked, picking Risacher.
Through 105 career games, the top pick is averaging only 12 points, and it's clear that his 3-point shot will be a long-term project. As the Hawks look to pivot from Trae Young to Jalen Johnson as the face of the franchise, Risacher could be used as trade fodder.
“It is also increasingly believed that Atlanta is willing to surrender Zaccharie Risacher in the proverbial right scenario, since the No. 1 overall pick in the draft just 18 months ago has not developed as the Hawks would have hoped to this point," wrote insider Marc Stein.
With any lottery selection in 2024, teams were looking to get high-level role players or low-level stars. Risacher is neither, and the Hawks are already willing to move on. Other lottery picks traded this early in their careers include James Wiseman and Anthony Bennett, two of the biggest busts in league history.
Risacher, to his credit, is a decent player. Was he worth being picked first overall? Nope, but he should have a longer career than either Bennett or Wiseman. Of course, Castle is the undisputed best player in the draft class.
Not only did the Spurs' guard take home Rookie of the Year, but he easily beat the rest of his class in both total points and points per game. This season, depending on the format the NBA uses, he could be named an All-Star. Any redraft would have him going first overall.
Other highly-touted lottery picks like Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, Cody Williams, Tidjane Salaün, and Devin Carter hardly see the floor, being limited to garbage time. With the exception of Sheppard, all of those players were still on the board when the Spurs made their pick.
Castle was a proven winner, bringing UConn a national title in his lone college season, and that resonated with the Spurs. The 2024 draft was largely forgettable, although, even with a slim chance, the Spurs still got their guy.