San Antonio Spurs 2025 NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, our San Antonio Spurs Mock Draft Roundup will highlight recent picks for the San Antonio Spurs from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the San Antonio Spurs:

CBS Sports — Cameron Salerno

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

My first thought when the Spurs got pick No. 2 was will Harper and De'Aaron Fox be able to co-exist in the backcourt? Harper is alone in Tier ll of draft prospects in this class, so it would be shocking to see anyone but Harper taken with this pick. Would the Spurs consider moving this pick for a superstar ... such as Giannis Antetokounmpo? Who knows. Regardless, the Spurs should take the best player on the board and figure out the rest later.

14. Liam McNeeley, Connecticut

McNeeley is a plug-and-play forward in the NBA. He plays well within the flow of an offense and has experience playing with other very talented players at the high school and college levels. When McNeeley missed time with an injury at UConn, his team looked notably different. His shooting numbers from 3-point range don't tell the full story.

The Rookie Wire — Cody Taylor

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Harper is regarded as one of the top lead guards in the upcoming draft class. His size enables him to get to his spots, score virtually all over the court and get to the free-throw line after averaging 5.8 attempts per game with the Scarlet Knights.

The 19-year-old is considered the consensus No. 2 player in the draft this year. Though the Spurs have De'Aaron Fox and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle in the backcourt, it'd be hard to see the organization pass on such a highly touted prospect like Harper.

14. Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

Essengue has a good interior game and has dazzled in the open court in fastbreak situations after creating turnovers with his length and instincts. He has put together some productive appearances of late with ratiopharm Ulm, including a 22-point effort on April 21. The Spurs have two first-round picks this year, so it remains to be seen which direction they'll go with here, but Essengue could be a good long-term fit.

The Athletic — Sam Vecenie

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Harper was seen as being exceptionally likely to be the No. 2 pick before the lottery. I think that's still the most likely outcome, but San Antonio getting this pick does throw things for a bit of a loop.

The Spurs just acquired De'Aaron Fox at the trade deadline. Additionally, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle plays a similar role to Harper as a combo guard. Ultimately, I think the Spurs should just take the best talent on the board, and that's Harper. I think he's a better prospect than Castle, and thus, Castle's presence shouldn't stop you from selecting him. On top of that, getting the No. 2 pick may have actually put the Spurs in the driver's seat for a potential superstar trade. I'm not convinced that any team will have a better top asset available for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade than this pick.

Harper's 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field as a freshman guard put him in rarefied air, as few players have gotten all that close to such marks in their first year. He also creates rim pressure at an elite level, with the ability to get into the paint and finish at the basket at a serious clip with his impressive array of gathers and touch finishes at 6-6 as a lead guard.

The biggest question for Harper remains his pull-up game as a shooter, as he only hit 29.2 percent of his pull-up 3s. I watched Harper work out recently, and it's clear that working as a scorer in ball screens, re-screens and dribble handoffs is a real emphasis for his pre-draft process. He shot the ball well in the workout that I saw. I felt like the ball would sometimes flatten out on him this season at Rutgers, but he's starting to work on getting more consistent arc on the shot off pull-ups. Between that, his physical frame being NBA-ready, and his intel all coming back very positively even in the face of a tough season at Rutgers, Harper is very well-positioned.

14. Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

Essengue is starting to turn things on in France, with multiple 20-point outings over the last month. The 6-9 forward is a terrific athlete who moves exceedingly well for his age. He'll be the second-youngest player in this draft class behind Cooper Flagg and is averaging 12 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game since Jan. 22.

The questions here are largely around his polish. The jumper is starting to fall, as he's made 35 percent from 3 in that window, but there are real mechanical issues regarding his base and balance that teams think will take a lot of time to work through, despite his solid touch. Additionally, while his defensive playmaking numbers are strong and he's shown improvement throughout the year, his overall impact on that end isn't all that high. He gets beaten more often off the bounce than you'd expect for this level of athleticism, and his help instincts waver. Still, he's a young player clearly coming along well regarding his development. Don't expect Essengue to be a valuable player next year in the NBA, but he could develop in time to be one of the better players in this draft class if he lands with the right organization.

Bleacher Report — Jonathan Wasserman

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Pro Comparisons: Cade Cunningham/Jalen Brunson

Dylan Harper's downhill game, elite finishing package and shotmaking capabilities have extended a gap between him and the No. 3 prospect.

He should be interchangeable between both guard spots thanks to a dangerous handle, 6'6" size and 39.0 percent catch-and-shoot stroke. However, you draft Harper to initiate offense, put pressure on the rim, create opportunities and have a player who can take over stretches of a game with his elite driving ability and confidence pulling up, stepping back or shooting from deep.

Team Fit: The Spurs' young core would be fully loaded if Harper joined Victor Wembanyama, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and this club's bounty of high-end role players in the Alamo City. But do the Spurs, who brokered a big deal for De'Aaron Fox in February, really want to add another young guard with an iffy jumper to the mix? Or will they turn their lottery winnings into another aggressive move for established talent? Stay tuned. —Zach Buckley, NBA Analyst

14. Carter Bryant, Arizona

Pro Comparison: Marcus Morris

Despite Carter Bryant's limited role, production and creation, there will be first-round interest in an athletic, 6'8" wing with clear shotmaking ability and defensive quickness/tools.

Teams may have to use their imaginations to picture serious upside, but Bryant has an NBA foundation and coveted archetype.

Team Fit: With the Spurs adding Harper to pair alongside De'Aaron Fox, they could target positional wing size, athleticism, shotmaking and defense at No. 14. Carter has become a hot name during the predraft process.

ESPN — Givony/Woo

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Scouting report: Harper did his best to keep the No. 1 pick conversation interesting for parts of the season with his skill level, shot creation and scoring prowess. He also can get to where he wants on the floor while demonstrating strong passing ability.

The physical nature of the NBA playoffs has emphasized why a sturdy playmaker of Harper's type can be so valuable, with his ability to finish through contact and draw fouls a major part of his appeal, along with the way he fills up the box score with an excellent feel for the game. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: The Spurs were already in as enviable a position as any team in the lottery, with two picks in the top 14 to bolster a roster that already features back-to-back NBA Rookie of the Year winners in Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, and now jump from 8 to 2 in the draft lottery in a massive stroke of good fortune.

While Harper's fit alongside De'Aaron Fox and Castle looks far from seamless, it would be very surprising to see San Antonio's forward-thinking front office pass here on Harper, who is widely considered the second-best prospect in the draft after Flagg. This opens up an opportunity for a team with a bigger need for a primary shot creator to make a move to trade up to this pick and perhaps convey added shooting to the Spurs, something their roster sorely needs to surround Wembanyama. -- Givony

14. Carter Bryant, Arizona

Scouting report: Bryant is the type of player who could help his standing in the predraft process as teams get a better look at him in workout settings, and he ticks several boxes NBA teams actively seek at his position. He's an easy fit with his desirable combination of size, length, perimeter shooting, passing and defensive versatility, sliding all over the floor for the Wildcats this season and seeing time at both forward positions.

Bryant wasn't consistently productive for Arizona coming off the bench and averaging just 6.5 points per game, as he's not much of a shot creator and has room to grow on both ends of the floor. But he has significant upside to tap into long term. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: With its second lottery pick in this draft, it will be interesting to see what San Antonio's appetite is for adding another rookie to an already young roster as the team likely hopes to gear up for a postseason run, nine years removed from its last playoff series win. Which direction the Spurs go with their first selection will likely play a role in what they do here, but the idea of moving one of these picks for more immediate help might appeal to the front office, depending on how the draft unfolds.

If the Spurs keep the pick, a young combo forward such as Bryant who can space the floor and guard multiple positions makes a lot of sense. -- Givony

SB Nation — Ricky O'Donnell

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Harper emerged as the front-runner for the No. 2 overall player in this class early in his freshman season, and maintained that status despite Rutgers finishing under .500 with two projected top-five picks. Harper's combination of downhill scoring, pull-up shooting potential, and live dribble passing as a sturdy 6'6 guard offers an archetype every NBA team covets. Harper has a special ability to split double-teams and get to the rim as a driver. He converted 70 percent of his rim opportunities even without the nuclear athleticism of guards like John Wall and Russell Westbrook. He scans as more of a scorer than a playmaker at first blush, but he's still a willing passer who was let down by his teammates on plenty of potential assists. The nice thing about Harper is that he can play either backcourt spot on both ends of the floor, showing an impressive ability to pressure the ball defensively with the size to give smaller guards problems. His shooting will be his swing skill after making only 33.3 percent of his threes and 75 percent of his free throws. If he shoots it well in the league, he's going to be a highly valuable as a big guard who create for himself and others and play on or off the ball.

14. Carter Bryant, Arizona

There's a lot to like about Bryant: he has ideal size for an NBA wing (6'8, 7-foot wingspan), he's an explosive athlete, he forced a ton of turnovers on the defensive end, and he proved he can hit a spot-up three. The Arizona freshman is pretty limited with the ball in his hands to this point both in terms of creating his own shot off the dribble or finding teammates as a passer. He has to continue to be a catch-and-shoot threat to impact the game offensively. While his 37.1 percent mark from three is impressive, it came on under three attempts per game, which leads to legitimate questions about how much utility his shot will have against bigger and faster pro defenses. Bryant's own defense should get him on the floor early in his NBA career, and if he can knock down shots, he should have a role as a combo forward for a long time.

The Ringer — J. Kyle Mann

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Elite footwork in the paint is a huge plus for any position, but it's a literal game changer for a guard in the playoffs. It means that their effectiveness around the basket isn't dependent on balls-to-the-wall speed, and they can continue to generate quality possessions when the game slows way down and becomes a half-court battle. Harper has that kind of footwork, along with terrific positional size and an ability to guard multiple positions. He might not play with San Antonio's first unit right away, given that the team just traded for De'Aaron Fox at the deadline, but his size will allow him to play next to any combination of Fox, Stephon Castle, or Devin Vassell. Ultimately, taking Harper is the smart asset play. Large lead handlers, with the upside to be an offensive hub, are pretty favorable square-one players for any team that might be looking to start over.

14. Danny Wolf, Michigan

The more unsavory parts of Wolf's game—turnovers, inconsistent shooting, meh-to-OK defensive upside—are a big reason why I think his responsibilities will need to be compressed into a smaller role in the NBA. But the length and athleticism of the Spurs should do a lot to protect him while allowing his polish as a lob thrower and feathery slinger of skip passes to shine. I also think he's a better shooter than many make him out to be, so he should form a nice synergy with Victor Wembanyama and give him opportunities to toggle between driving the ball and operating in the mid-post. Wolf has his minuses, but his overall feel for the game should allow him to stay on the floor.

CBS Sports — Kyle Boone

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Victor Wembanyama finds a new running mate in Dylan Harper, the draft's second-best prospect, who projects as a lead guard who can play on and off the ball.

14. Khaman Maluach, Duke

Measuring a 7-foot-6 wingspan at the combine, Maluach's length as a center and projectable role as an above-the-rim playmaker makes too much sense. He could feast alongside Wemby in San Antonio.

Yahoo! Sports — Kevin O'Connor

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

With Antetokounmpo searching for his next franchise, the question now will be whether the Spurs trade this pick to land the Greek Freak or not. Harper is a big-bodied lefty combo guard with NBA blood in his veins, as the son of Ron Harper, who was a 20/5/5 guy before winning five titles as a role player. Like his father, Harper has a high-floor with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace. He obviously has talent, but the Spurs just traded for De'Aaron Fox and already have Stephon Castle. There's too much overlap with Harper, meaning the Spurs could look to trade down or out.

14. Egor Demin, BYU

Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes. At 6-foot-9, he'd add a unique ingredient to the Spurs' frontcourt. But he's no guarantee to thrive in the NBA. At BYU, Demin struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing. But the Spurs already have a primary creator in De'Aaron Fox, so Demin could be worth the risk since he can develop slowly as a creator while leaning into his existing strengths as a cutter, screener and defender.

38. Milos Uzan, Houston

The Spurs will need connectors in their core headlined by Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox. Someone like Uzan, who has long been a high-IQ combo guard who knits teams together with his playmaking skills and defensive hustle. After transferring to Houston, he honed his jumper to give him an even stronger skill-set to excel for many years in the NBA.

More iterations of our San Antonio Spurs mock draft roundups:

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