Spurs’ top 2024 NBA Draft Lottery targets to bolster Victor Wembanyama era

It’s not the smashing success that last year provided by way of the opportunity to draft Victor Wembanyama, but another two picks in the top eight do resonate.

The realities for the Spurs and the 2024 Draft class

It’s silly to say there’s no Wemby in this class because there is no Wemby in the overwhelming majority of drafts. Luckily for the Spurs, they already have Wemby.

Beyond that, there’s no player this year who projects as a sure-fire superstar. There may not even be a clear cut number one overall pick, though Alexandre Sarr may be that guy according to league-wide chatter, especially considering how well he could fit the Atlanta Hawks who overcame odds to climb from ten to the top pick.

Combine the belief that this draft isn’t deep with elite level talent with the fact that the Spurs hold a number of future first round and second round picks, several of them conditional, and San Antonio could dangle one of next month’s two top eight selections in a potential trade. Wemby’s ascension to near All-NBA status as a rookie has many thinking the franchise may look to make a big move for an established star this off-season.

The Spurs have the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft

Nikola Topic’s size and passing ability make him an intriguing choice, though the Serbian guard may not be an option with the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets picking behind the Hawks.

The name that’s probably most intriguing for the Spurs is Rob Dillingham. The former Kentucky Wildcat is around 6-foot-2, but of all the players in the draft, save for maybe Ron Holland, “Dilly” projects as the best scorer given how his game translates to the speed and spacing of the NBA. As a freshman sub in his only season of collegiate ball, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points per game while shooting 44.4% from three-point range. Fourth-year Spurs guard Devin Vassell is coming off averaging 19.5 points per contest, but creating opportunities, including for others, is not yet one of his biggest strengths. “Dilly” would provide the kind of “slasher” Gregg Popovich doesn’t have now.

In an example of how unpredictable this draft’s top ten could be, mock drafts from national publications have the 19-year-old going anywhere from third to beyond eight, where the Spurs are slotted to pick again.

Speaking of…

San Antonio is also at No. 8 after the lottery shook out

The aforementioned Ron Holland may slip because of a G League season that wasn’t quite what many expected out of the 6-8 swingman. Like Dillingham, Hollands has one of the highest upsides offensively. But thanks to fantastic length and ability, he also comes with big-time defensive potential.

Once talked about as a consensus top-three pick, San Antonio could afford to take the chance on Holland for two main reasons: its their second in the top eight. More importantly, the franchise doesn’t need to try to make sure they hit on a foundational piece. They already have one.

The Spurs also have two picks in the second round: 35th and 48th.