5 names to know as big men highlight the Spurs’ NBA Draft wish list

The way Santa Clara forward Allen Graves sees it, the best things he does on the basketball court don’t always show up in the box score.

“I’d like to say I have a good feel for the game,” Graves told reporters at the NBA draft combine. “My knowledge of basketball has always been pretty good.”

An analytics darling who did not start for his college team, Graves has seen his draft stock rise in recent weeks. He is one of a handful of players who could find a landing spot in San Antonio.

Fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, the Spurs own the No. 20 pick in the first round of the draft Tuesday in New York.  They were able to move up nine slots thanks to a pick swap with Atlanta, a remnant from the 2022 Dejounte Murray trade.

The Spurs also own three picks in Wednesday’s second round — Nos. 35, 42 and 44 — though the club is unlikely to make all of them.

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When it comes to continuing to build the roster out around superstar Victor Wembanyama, Spurs general manager Brian Wright, who picked in the top 4 in each of the previous three drafts, will have to make do with selecting in the bottom third this year.

Graves is an intriguing prospect who could fall into that range.

Despite averaging 22.6 minutes as Santa Clara’s Sixth Man, the 19-year-old Graves led the team in blocks and steals. The 6-foot-9 Graves but isn’t considered an elite athlete, but his quick hands and apparent basketball IQ make him a defensive playmaker at the forward position. He shot 51% overall, 41% from 3-point range and 75% from the free-throw line as a freshman, a profile that should suit Graves well as a floor-spreader at the NBA level.

Graves’ approach to the game fits what the Spurs are seeking as a complement to Wembanyama.

“Make all the dirty plays, be a hustle player, be that glue guy,” Graves said.

 Whether that is enough to make him the Spurs’ next first-round pick remains to be seen.  Here is a look at other prospects on the Spurs’ board heading into Tuesday:

Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky

On paper, the 6-foot-9 Quiantance appears to fill the Spurs’ need for a bouncy, muscular power forward type.

His biggest question mark is one of health.

After suffering an ACL tear in his right knee as a freshman at Arizona State, Quaintance — a former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American — transferred to Kentucky.

He appeared in four games with the Wildcats before being shut down for the season with lingering knee issues. That medical chart is the main reason Quaintance is not being hyped as a potential lottery pick.

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“The ups and downs that come with the season, it doesn’t always go as planned,” Quaintance told reporters at the NBA draft combine. “You’ve got to keep a level head, keep your eyes forward and keep the outside noise on the outside.”

If the Spurs can look past the health issues, Quiantance has the potential to provide massive upside at the No. 20 pick.

A defensive-minded big man with top-shelf length and strength, the 18-year-old Quinatance set an Arizona State freshman record for blocked shots while appearing in only 24 games. He should waste little time contributing on that end at the NBA level, while also serving as a rim-running and lob threat on offense.

“My versatility and the way I move is different from a lot of bigs,” Quaintance said.

Chris Cenac Jr,  F/C, Houston

The 6-foot-11 Cenac is well aware of where his future NBA paychecks might be cashed.

“I say defense for sure, being able to move my feet and guard the perimeter,” Cenac told reporters at the NBA draft combine. “Little grit areas of the game.”

Indeed, Cenac’s shooting numbers were nothing to write home about in his lone college season at Houston. He averaged 9.5 points, mostly using his 7-foot-5 wingspan and 240-pound frame to get to the rim.

The 19-year-old Cenac has worked his way into first-round conversations on the back of his defensive presence and rebounding prowess.

Cenac’s season at Houston spent under the tutelage of Kelvin Sampson — a coach well-respected within the Spurs’ walls — only helps his stock in San Antonio.

Peat’s first name is a Hawaiian word meaning “strong warrior.” That is also how Peat would describe his game.

“I’m going to play hard every time I step on the court,” Peat told reporters at the NBA draft combine. “I play with a chip on my shoulder, and I feel like I always find a way to impact winning.”

The 6-foot-7, 245-pound Peat has been a winner at every level. He owns four gold medals as a member of USA Basketball program. In his lone college season at Arizona, he was named to the Big 12’s All-Freshman team while starring during the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four.

Built like an NFL tight end — his father Todd played six NFL seasons, while his brother Andrus played 11 — Peat possesses the size and strength to battle on the interior in the NBA. At Arizona, he showcased an uncanny ability to finish through contact and hold his spots on the block.

Shooting can be an issue for Peat. He was 7-for-20 from 3-point range last season and made only 62.3% from the foul line. If the Spurs are still scarred from their failed experiment at turning Jeremy Sochan into a competent offensive player, Peat might not be the choice.

Still, the Spurs will always value character and winning. Peat is certainly on their radar at No. 20.

“I’ve won my whole career,” Peat said. “I feel like I can do that at the NBA stage as well.”

Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers

If Lopez goes anywhere within the top 30 picks Tuesday, he will make history as the first Mexican-born player selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

It is a distinction the native of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, does not take lightly.

“It’s definitely something I’m aware of,” Lopez told reporters at the NBA draft combine. “It’s a blessing. It’s a great opportunity for me. It’s something I carry with a lot of pride.”

At age 14, Lopez left Mexico for Spain, where he began his professional career. His past two seasons were spent with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League, where Lopez developed a reputation as a deadly downhill rim attacker.

Now 19, the 6-foot-8 Lopez is ready to make the leap to the NBA. He could be available when the Spurs are on the clock at No. 20.

Lopez believes his time in New Zealand has prepared him for what is to come at the NBA, where he is set to make history on draft day.

“It’s a really fast-paced league,” Lopez said. “It’s a really physical league. It’s a league with great talent, players who have been in the NBA before. It’s a really high level.”

Other prospects worth monitoring at No. 20: Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas; Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina; Tarris Reed Jr, C, Connecticut; Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor; Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke.