The San Antonio Spurs lucked out in the NBA Draft Lottery, ending up with the No. 2 overall pick.
The only problem is that, after Duke’s Cooper Flagg gets taken first, the next couple best prospects on most boards are point guards, and the Spurs have plenty of point guards.
That’s why ESPN’s Jonathan Givony’s latest prediction has the Spurs taking a talented wing from Duke instead.
Givony links the Spurs to the selection of Kon Knueppel at No. 2 overall, calling it the “pick that fills the biggest need.”
“Surrounding Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox with high-feel, dynamic perimeter shooters is a major priority for the front office this offseason, and no player in this draft fits that bit better than Knueppel,” Givony writes. “He’s the draft’s best shooter, capable of shooting off movement coming off screens, but also is a solid defender and playmaker who plays a selfless, highly competitive style.
“He was happy to play second fiddle to Flagg, his teammate and rising superstar this season, making him an ideal fit to pair with a future MVP candidate such as Wembanyama.”
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Knueppel is a legitimate scoring threat from anywhere on the floor, including going to the basket.
It’s a great point from Givony that Knueppel already played with a superstar in college with Flagg, so he won’t have a major adjustment to understanding that the Spurs’ world revolves around Wembanyama.
San Antonio could make the playoffs if Wemby gets healthy and gets to play with a lineup that includes Fox, Castle and Knueppel.
If this is indeed the choice, it’s a good one for the Spurs.
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