NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Post-lottery predictions and shockers in the first-round
Pick Analysis. SF/PF. Duke. Jalen Johnson. 12. 29. Scouting Report. player
NBA Mock Draft 12th Pick: San Antonio Spurs
After barely missing out on the playoffs for the second straight year (the last two years have been truly weird), the San Antonio Spurs will tread on uncharted waters this offseason. With all veterans entering free agency, this will be the franchise’s chance to go turbo on a rebuild around their already-solid core through the draft and with their massive cap space.
By all odds, DeMar DeRozan probably won’t be back, and while handing the keys out to the likes of DeJounte Murray and Derrick White is the likely plan as constructed, San Antonio’s frontcourt needs a lot of help. Duke’s Jalen Johnson could just be what the team needs who can cover a lot of holes for the team on both ends of the floor.
The athletic tweener is cut from a different cloth among his peers. A playmaking forward with great handles and a unique court vision, Johnson can easily find immediate minutes on a normally veteran-favoring Spurs team in the frontcourt next to budding star Keldon Johnson and underrated defensive anchor Jakob Poeltl. Side note: Gregg Popovich loves playmaking forwards.