Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley impressed the Spurs so much with their competitiveness at a pre-draft workout that the team decided to take both players, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. The two guards were matched up against each other in a 3-on-3 scrimmage and both took advantage of the opportunity.
“I felt like we was competing for a spot, so I was going extra hard and going after him,” Wesley said of Branham. Wesley also tried to outshine Duke’s Wendell Moore, who took part in the scrimmage as well, explaining, “They had a lot more hype than me, so I wanted to go at them.”
General manager Brian Wright said the Spurs expected Branham to be selected in the mid-teens or possibly late in the lottery and were prepared to trade up for him before he fell to No. 20.
“He’s smart, tough, competitive and coachable, and those are all things we were looking to find in this draft,” Wright said.
There’s more from San Antonio:
- The addition of two guards casts doubt on the future of Lonnie Walker, who is headed for free agency, Orsborn adds in a separate story. The Spurs can make him restricted by extending a $6.3MM qualifying offer by Wednesday, but there may no longer be a role for him in San Antonio. “He has done a phenomenal job in his development over the years and we saw the consistency he brought, especially in the second half of the season when he really hit his stride,” Wright said. “At the appropriate time, we will sit with (his representatives) and him and try to find out what’s next for him and the franchise.”
- Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News looks at the international background of lottery pick Jeremy Sochan, who had to learn basketball from his mother because there weren’t many accomplished coaches in the English town where the family lived when he was young. The organization is impressed by Sochan’s versatility and plans to use him all along the front line.
- Coach Gregg Popovich called each of the Spurs’ draft picks Thursday night to welcome them to the team, McDonald tweets, adding that it’s a pretty clear indication that Popovich plans to return for another season.
Spurs crushed there draft.
Now the big question: to Ayton or not to Ayton?
I think they need to, and it may be a good opportunity for Ayton as well, provided they plan on retaining Murray. The Branham pick I feel may age well.
Dunk-reel fans like Walker, but Spurs have really upgraded at the 2. Branham could be high scorer, which puts him in the ROY race.
Sochan was not that noticable but supposed to be strong defensively all over at 6-9.
Predict all starters get a plus on-off for ’23… Especially Poeltl, who had the highest while not helped by forwards of any size. Per 36′, 17-11.6, 3.5/2 a/t, 2.2blox on 4 fouls. Ayton would not boost the team that much, but they have the capspace.
The Spurs feel like they get at least 1 steal in the draft like every year. Sochan is something they’ve needed for a long time at the 4/5, and I also thought Branham would be long gone by then
That being said, drafting both guards also brought the Lonnie Walker question to me, so curious to see what they do there. They have more assets for moves as well
I Love what Spurs did.. I thought Cle could have traded #14 to Spurs for 20 & 25..
I thought SA would take Mark Williams. I’m big fan of hie. I wish Cle would have taken him & considered trading Allen for OG.
Spurs need a elite Rim Protector now & have the $ to get an Ayton.
Spurs had a great draft. Sochan is a bigger Dra. Both Branham and Wesley have plenty of upside. Branham is still pretty raw to me. Got great length and reach for his position. He can be a big time player in a few yrs. All three are in a great place to learn and get better. Only Rockets had a better draft than Spurs.