What they're saying: Grades, analysis of Spurs drafting Notre Dame G Blake Wesley

On3 imageby:Patrick Engel06/24/22

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An NBA team was going to buy into Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley’s upside and draft him Thursday night, and likely in the first round. The San Antonio Spurs raised their hand and snagged him with the No. 25 overall pick.

Draft analysts considered Wesley a high-upside prospect who needed a lot of refinement. He’s a 19-year-old who played one year of college basketball and is still earlier in his developmental process. The team who drafts him has an important role in making that process a success. In a good on-paper match, Wesley landed with a franchise known for its professional development acumen.

That’s one reason the Spurs’ selection of him has drawn positive feedback from most analysts and experts. Here’s a roundup of the grades and analysis of the pick from those who cover the draft and the NBA.

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Jay Bilas, ESPN

“He can get his own shot,” Bilas said on the draft broadcast. “He’s athletic, has great burst, he plays with energy and intensity. He only shot 30 percent from three, but he has a good stroke that needs work to get more consistent. He has very good defensive potential. He reminds me a little bit of Bones Hyland from VCU [now with the Denver Nuggets], but he’s younger and not a finished product.”

Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger, The Athletic

Vecenie ranked Wesley as the No. 25 overall player in the draft and sees him as pure upside play.

“You’re drafting Wesley for what he could be, not what he is right now,” Vecenie wrote. “It’s unlikely he’ll be able to come into the NBA next season and be a positive player, simply because of his shooting and efficiency or decision-making.

“But his ability to create a shot from nothing, his potential in isolation and his defense present such an intriguing combination of skills. On top of that, the flashy passing ability he showcases portends some real upside on the ball if teams must respect his shot at all three levels.

“This is essentially a boom-or-bust swing. If it works, Wesley has a chance to work out in a big way and become a legitimate starting guard in the NBA. There is also a real chance Wesley ends up not being much of anything if the shooting never comes around. There are signs he could shoot, but it’s going to take some work, and the touch indicators aren’t incredible.”

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Hollinger, a former NBA front office executive with the Memphis Grizzlies, was a buyer in Wesley for the entire pre-draft process.

“I really like the value here for San Antonio – I had Wesley 11th on my board – although it makes me scratch my head even harder on the [Ohio State guard Malaki] Branham selection at No. 20 since they overlap positionally,” Hollinger wrote. “Nonetheless, this is a strong upside play for a rebuilding team.”

Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer

O’Connor viewed Wesley as the No. 20 player in the draft and gave the pick a “B.”

“San Antonio is going all upside at this point,” O’Connor wrote. “Wesley is raw and probably not ready to contribute, especially in a deep Spurs rotation at his position. However, his freshman season at Notre Dame featured some pretty impressive go-to scoring flashes and playmaking. But he needs work on his jumper. Maybe [Spurs assistant] Chip Engelland can help.”

Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report

Buckley gave the Wesley pick a “B+.”

“The Spurs aren’t short on high-ceiling guards, but it isn’t clear which ones will pan out, so they might as well keep taking shots,” Buckley wrote.

“Wesley slithers around defenders like a snake, and he can fire pull-up jumpers from anywhere. They may not always go down, but there’s an unpredictability to his game that will make opposing defenses uncomfortable.

“Still, his shooting must improve, and his playmaking has a long way to go. Landing in this developmental system could be a dream.”

Gary Parrish and Avery Johnson, CBS Sports

Parrish graded the pick as an “A-” because of the value and Wesley’s upside.

“Wesley wasn’t a consistent player for the Irish, but he flashes a lot of the things that shooting guards need in today’s NBA,” Parrish wrote. “The only guy available higher on my big board is [Kentucky guard] TyTy Washington, but Wesley has the athleticism and skills to turn into something with a great coaching staff.”

Johnson was the color analyst for Notre Dame’s final two NCAA tournament games. He saw Wesley up close and spent time around him between the games.

“Another wing player who can guard multiple positions, especially the one, two and three spots,” Johnson said on CBS Sports HQ. “Has ability to shoot the ball, but this kid is going to be a really good slasher. He made 54 threes last year, but only on 30 percent shooting. Sometimes a little wild and erratic.

“He really feels special and that he can really translate to the NBA. I think he’s going to be a little disappointed he went this low in the draft based on conversations we’ve had.”

Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation

O’Donnell gave the Spurs’ pick of Wesley an “A-” as well.

“Wesley was a surprising one-and-done after emerging as the lead offensive engine of a Notre Dame team that made the NCAA tournament,” O’Donnell wrote. “The freshman guard has a blazing first step and can typically get wherever he wants on the floor.

“The problem is he struggles to finish. Wesley hit a cold streak as a shooter that hurt his three-point percentage at the end of the year, but he should be a decent shooter in time. Wesley also has the tools to be a good defender down the road. He simply does some things you can’t teach in terms of his shot creation ability.

“He might be something of a boom-or-bust pick, but for a Spurs team with so many draft picks, this is a good swing to take.”

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