2019 NBA Draft: Top 3 players for San Antonio Spurs to select at No. 29th

2019 NBA Draft: Top 3 players for San Antonio Spurs to select with 29th pick

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Jontay Porter #11 of the Missouri Tigers leads a fastbreak up the court against the Florida State Seminoles during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MAY 16: Luka Samanic #72 participates in workouts during Day One of the NBA Draft Combine at Quest MultiSport Complex on May 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

3. Luka Samanic, 6-11 forward/center – Petrol Olimpija (Slovenia)

The biggest winner at the 2019 NBA Draft Combine, Petrol Olimpija’s Luka Samanic proved himself capable of playing against NBA-level athleticism and physicality after putting up 13 points (5/7 FG) and seven rebounds in impressive fashion, battling hard on defense and showing off deft ball-handling and fluidity as a scorer on offense. A year ago, the 6-11 Croatian forward was viewed as a potential lottery pick due to his mobility and skill at his size, but an up-and-down season with Petrol Olimpija — with per-36 stats of 15.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 48.4-33.8-72.2 shooting — ultimately hurt his stock and killed a lot of the existing enthusiasm for his NBA potential.

It was a risk to show up at the combine, since there were major concerns over his ability to play against physicality because of his frame, but he ultimately squashed those concerns in just 19 minutes of action, pulling out of the combine after doing so well on the first day. Firmly on the first-round bubble, Samanic will likely be picked somewhere in the 20-40 range after a strong pre-draft process, and the Spurs, with their history of deft overseas scouting, could be one of many teams interested in selecting the talented 19-year-old on June 20.

There’s no telling whether he’d be brought over right away or whether he’d be stashed overseas for another year or two. It’s fair to assume that Samanic would prefer to make the jump immediately, as he worked hard to put on nearly 30 pounds of weight since his appearance at the 2018 draft combine, showing a dogged determination to prove that he was ready and able to play against NBA-level talent and athletes. Given his young age, it could be beneficial to stash him overseas for a bit; but, considering the leaps he’s made physically and his alluring talent as a fluid, shot-creating stretch forward, it may be difficult for the Spurs to pass up bringing him over right away. San Antonio loves talented bigs, so he’d naturally be of interest to the organization with the 29th pick.

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