The Spurs made their franchise-saving pick one year ago. Now, they have a supporting cast, too.
San Antonio won the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes in 2023, allowing them to draft the generational talent first overall. The French center was sensational in his first season, easily winning Rookie of the Year and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Yet despite the renewed excitement in San Antonio, the team's record remained the same as the previous year: 22-60. Yes, the franchise has its star, but the rest of the cast still needs work.
The Spurs added to that collection during the 2024 NBA Draft, nabbing a trio of highly-touted talents — one in the first round and two in the second.
Here's a look at the 2024 draft situation for the Spurs.
MORE: NBA Mock Draft: Final predictions, top prospects and more
Spurs draft picks 2024: When does San Antonio pick?
The Spurs entered the 2024 NBA Draft with four picks:
- Round 1, No. 4
- Round 1, No. 8
- Round 2, No. 35
- Round 2, No. 48
San Antonio has both its original picks, which are the No. 4 and No. 35 selections. It also has Toronto's first-round pick (No. 8) and the Lakers' original second-round pick through Memphis (No. 48).
Breaking the Spurs 2024 NBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Selection |
| 1 | 4 | Stephon Castle |
| 2 | 36 | Juan Nunez |
| 2 | 48 | Harrison Ingram |
MORE: How bad is the 2024 NBA Draft class?
Spurs pick No. 8: Stephon Castle, guard
With the first of their four selections in the 2024 NBA Draft, San Antonio opted for UConn guard Stephon Castle. The 6-6 guard was a freshman phenom with the Huskies, garnering praise for his dogged defending and athleticism as Dan Hurley's side ran the table and captured a second straight NCAA title.
There are plenty of concerns over the 19 year old, namely in regards to his limited shooting. He sank just 27 percent of his three-point attempts in college, struggling to find consistency with an awkward form. His playmaking skillset also leaves something be desired, especially with Castle claiming he views himself as a point guard long term.
Spurs draft needs
- Point guard: The Spurs have their offensive catalyst in Wembanyama. Now they need someone to run the offense around him. Tre Jones and Malachi Branham largely shared duties in 2023-24, but with a pair of top-10 picks, the Spurs have the chance to get a true standout point guard who can steer the offense and help to set up Wembanyama with more opportunities.
- Floor-spacing shooter: The offense can't all be on Wembanyama's shoulders, no matter how capable he is. The priority is certainly someone to run the offense, but with three more picks, that offense needs more capable scorers. Wemby was the only player averaging at least 20 points per game, and teams would often focus entirely on preventing him from scoring. The Spurs need another offensive threat on the floor to give Wembanyama some offensive support.
MORE: Ranking the worst No. 1 draft picks in NBA history
NBA Mock Draft 2024
In Kyle Irving's most recent mock draft, the Spurs took UConn guard Stephon Castle at No. 4, Tennessee forward Dalton Knecht at No. 8, Colorado guard KJ Simpson at No. 35 and UConn guard Cam Spencer at No. 48.
Castle, the national championship-winning point guard for the Huskies, was a star freshman, averaging 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists. His passing and defense are both assets that should fill in as the top need for the Spurs.
Knecht would provide the Spurs with another reliable scorer. He averaged 21.7 points per game and shot 45.8% from the field, including 39.7% from 3-point range. With the floor moving through Castle and two scorers in Wembanyama and Knect, the Spurs would have a greatly improved offense from a season ago.
Continuing to bolster the point guard position could be a priority for San Antonio late in the draft, and Simpson would certainly help in that area. He brings a bit more of a pronounced offensive profile than Castle, having averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists last season, while shooting 47.5% from the field.
Castle's teammate Spencer joins him in the mock. Spencer shot 44% from 3-point range that would bring a standout range shooter to the bench for San Antonio. At 6-4, the guard is also a standout defender.
