Spurs 2025 NBA Draft preview: post-All-Star break

02/20/2025 10:21 AM

San Antonio controls its draft destiny with 30 games to go.

Things have changed drastically for the San Antonio Spurs in the last month. They went from a team with a load of draft picks and an unclear direction for the future to one with two superstars and a franchise ready to make moves toward contention. The acquisition of De'Aaron Fox at the trade deadline gave Victor Wembanyama his running mate and the Spurs a base to build around.

A move like the Fox trade would typically deplete the Spurs draft stash. San Antonio did have to trade multiple firsts, but they still managed to hold on to key draft assets. It did, however, change the amount of capital they have in the 2025 draft. The Spurs still have enough assets to make another splash on draft night this June.

Potential Spurs picks

San Antonio had to trade the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets protected firsts to acquire Fox. They still managed to hold onto their pick, and the Atlanta Hawks unprotected first-rounder in the upcoming 2025 draft. The picks from the Bulls and Hornets were unlikely to convey, so there isn't a major change in the assets they'll have this summer.

At 23-29, the Spurs have the 10th-best odds at the number one pick in the draft. San Antonio's schedule doesn't get any easier from here. They face the end of the rodeo road trip, several playoff-bound teams, and the most remaining back-to-backs of any NBA team. On top of that, it looks like Wembanyama is still dealing with an illness that will likely knock him out of their next game. There is a real chance that San Antonio limps toward the end of the season and falls below some other lottery teams.

If the Spurs do rise to the occasion and push for a play-in spot, they can hope the Hawks pick brings them good luck in the draft. Atlanta is outside of the lottery right now at 26-29 with the 15th-best record in the NBA. The Hawks are dealing with their fair share of injuries and just traded away key players like De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic. There is a chance they move back into the lottery by the end of the season.

San Antonio has set themselves up well to take a swing on some solid prospects in the draft. The top five players in the 2025 class are exciting, with Duke's Cooper Flagg being the ultimate prize at number one. The 6-14 range in the class is filled with players who have some question marks but could be NBA starters or rotational pieces. Depending on how a few ping pong balls drop, the Spurs could have a swing at one of those top-six players, and grab another promising player in the top 14.

Prospects to watch

In the first and second editions, we profiled: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Egor Demin, Tre Johnson, Liam McNeeley, Alex Karaban, Khaman Maluach, Derik Queen, Thomas Sorber, Johni Broome, Kasparas Jakucionas, and Kam Jones.

V.J. Edgecombe, Guard, Baylor:

One of the most exciting freshmen in college hoops plays for the Baylor Bears. V.J. Edgecombe is an electric combo guard who's likely to be a top-5 pick come June. Edgecombe is averaging 15 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 steals while shooting 44.8% from the field, 35.5% from three, and 79.6% from the free throw line. He's shining as an off-ball guard who can hit catch and shoot threes and attack closeouts.

Edgecombe is one of the most explosive athletes in the draft. He's likely to be a top 5% athlete at the next level. He's a quick lateral athlete and has long arms to disrupt opposing offenses on and off the ball. Now that his three-ball is falling, he looks like a player who could be quite disruptive as a shooting guard at the next level.

He's an exciting fit with the Spurs. Edgecombe could join Fox and Stephon Castle to give the Spurs three super athletic guards who can play on and off the ball, with Edgecombe providing a bit of three-point shooting. Adding the Baylor guard would continue to build the Spurs core into an athletic, defensive powerhouse.

Ace Bailey, Wing, Rutgers:

If the Spurs find themselves in the top three, they'll have to take a long hard look at the exciting wing from Rutgers. Airious "Ace" Bailey is a 6-foot-10 shot-creating wing who has become one of the more polarizing players in the NBA Draft. His talent is undeniable, but questions have risen about his shot selection and defensive ability.

Bailey averages 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds on 46.6% shooting from the field and 36.6% from three. Some of the shots Bailey can hit are jaw-dropping. He's probably the best tough-shot maker in the draft. His length allows him to make guarded turnarounds and contested threes. The issue is his over-reliance on those tough shots. Will that success translate to the next level? How does he look in a primary or secondary role in the NBA? Can he lock in defensively for 48 minutes against the best of the best? Those are big questions he will need to answer.

It's easy to see how Bailey could fit with a team like the Spurs. His length and shot-making on the wing could make him the perfect third option next to Wembanyama and Fox. He'd have to scale down into a more off-ball role and commit to being a stopper on the defensive end. San Antonio just needs more high-end talent at this point. Bailey would bring that if they can move into the top five to get him.

Collin Murray-Boyles, Forward, South Carolina:

Some players just feel like they are destined to play for the Spurs. Collin Murray-Boyles is one of those guys. At 6-foot-7, the sophomore forward is physical, smart and skilled. He's averaging 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 57.3% from the field. Murray-Boyles isn't flashy, but he's effective, with a strong interior game. He has a high feel as a roller and passer, making him the perfect connective piece.

Murray-Boyles is a strong, smart, and switchable defender. He's a sturdy player who can guard the post and move his feet enough to guard wings. He'll rebound the ball and be a physical presence inside. He's not a rim protector and is too small to play the five, but he could be interesting in some of the small-ball lineups the Spurs have been testing with Jeremy Sochan. His shot is still not quite there yet, as he's shooting just 28% from three. But it's an improvement over last season when he wasn't a threat to pull from deep at all.

Murray-Boyles would be a solid connector and defender next to Wembanyama. He could provide some of what Sochan gives the Spurs but with a little more passing and scoring ability down low. Even if he's not a long-term starter with San Antonio, he'd be a staple of their bench lineups throughout the Wembanyama era.