Spurs Select Blake Wesley Using No. 25 Overall Pick in 2022 NBA Draft
After previous selecting Jeremy Sochan (No. 9 pick) and Malaki Branham (No. 20 pick), the San Antonio Spurs used their third and final first-round selection on former Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley.
Wesley is a bigger guard at 6-foot-5 with explosive athleticism but still needs to refine his jump shot (30.3 percent from 3-point range). He played one season of collegiate basketball and averaged 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.
After declaring for the NBA Draft, Wesley became the first-ever one-and-done player in Notre Dame's history. He compares himself to names like Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Caris LeVert during the pre-draft process.
Wesley is considered a long-term project with the need to refine his feel for the game. Despite having great physical tools, his output of 0.857 points per possession on finishes around the basket (half-court) ranked 396th among 398 players in NCAA Division I with at least 100 attempts.
There's also a need for refinement in Wesley's off-the-dribble shooting. He shot just 38-115 (33.0 percent) on these particular shot attempts (half-court) last season. If he can develop a consistent pull-up jumper, it would open up a lot for him to utilize his explosiveness.
The Spurs loaded up on perimeter talent with their late first-round picks between Wesley and Branham. Both of those players stand at 6-foot-5 but he is more of a spot-up player while Wesley is a playmaker.
The emphasis of selecting guard talent likely does not bode well for Lonnie Walker IV's chances of being re-signed in free agency. By letting him walk, the Spurs would clear $32.6 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.
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