New Athletic Mock. I really like Saraf and he would definitely give us a guy that can create rim pressure and be a combo guard. He's drawn comparisons to Manu.
I like Noa a lot as well, but he is too much like Sochan. Can't play them together. Noa is a project and I just think you are better off trading down and taking a guy like Karaban that has a lower ceiling, but is a high IQ shooter that will do all the little things for you. Or you go with Rasheer Fleming.
Sorber is 100% the backup center I want. I also wouldn't hate Malauch as a bigger Dereck Lively comp. Rim protect and oops and hopefully understands the game better than Bassey.
I think our seconds are likely to be draft and stash or traded. But Maxime Raynaud from Stanford is Wemby's best friend. I don't hate picking him and giving him a 2-way.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6030735/2025/01/09/2025-nba-mock-draft-cooper-flagg-dylan-harper-johni-broome/11. San Antonio Spurs (via CHI)
Ben Saraf | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
Saraf is one of my personal favorites in this class. He emerged on the scene quickly this summer, winning the MVP award of the Under-18 European Championships while posting multiple 40-point games and averaging five assists. He then came over to Portland to play in a preseason NBA game and showed up well. He scored 16 points while hitting 3 of 5 from 3 and showed real passing acumen even though he only ended up with two assists. There are worries here, particularly around Saraf's jumper (a lefty shot that comes out of his hand a bit flat at times) and his defensive ability (although I like his instincts and playmaking ability on that end).
He's averaging 12.5 points while shooting 47.2 percent from the field in a pro league in Germany, while also dishing out 4.2 assists per game. He thinks the game at an incredibly high level. Teams will want to learn where they think his body is, and how much improvement can be made to his overall athleticism and explosiveness once he gets into a real strength-training program.
14. San Antonio Spurs
Noa Essengue | 6-8 forward | 18 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
Scouts remain impressed by Essengue, a forward from France playing with Saraf in Germany. Scouts got to see these two up close when Ulm traveled to Portland to play the Trail Blazers this year, with Essengue scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds with a strong second half. The idea here is a big, versatile wing who is younger than anyone in the draft class other than Flagg who has already been productive playing at 17 in a solid professional league. He's active and switchable on defense, with serious coordination and mobility for his size.
Offensively, scouts wonder exactly what the best position for him is. Because he struggles to shoot it, Essengue often looks more like a center right now as opposed to an NBA wing. He's at his best playing with a motor and aggressiveness on the glass, which he consistently does. However, he would also be quite undersized for the center position. He's so young that it is tough to tell exactly where he's going to settle in. However, there's clearly upside athletically at this size. Essengue's range is a bit wide when you talk to scouts, but the ones who like him tend to really like him.
17. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
Thomas Sorber | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Georgetown
Sorber has been among the most productive freshmen in the country, and scouts are fascinated to see how he performs in Big East play. Sorber's stats jump off the page he's averaging 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks. However, the numbers do fall off a bit against better competition. Sorber was averaging 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 44 percent from the field in his first six games against high-majors; he put up 11 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks Tuesday against No. 7 Marquette. Listed at 6-10, Sorber will be undersized for the center position in the NBA, and scouts are a bit skeptical he'll actually come in at that size without shoes once he gets a full measurement at the combine.
The name that comes up a bit with him is Xavier Tillman. Sorber is relatively below-the-rim and struggles to shoot from distance, which has led scouts to wonder what exactly the role is on offense beyond being able to short-roll and pass. However, much like Tillman, Sorber is terrific positionally on defense and seems to have very high-level reaction time. Sorber might end up being a multi-year guy, or he might end up being a one-and-done. But he's been superb for Georgetown.
40. San Antonio Spurs (via Chicago): Chaz Lanier | 6-5 wing | Tennessee
44. San Antonio Spurs: Xaivian Lee | 6-4 guard | Princeton
We only have 4 free agents (Paul, Tre, Bassey, Mamu) so unlikely we draft 5 players without multiple trades. Keldon will have two years, Barnes, Collins, Branham, Wesley and Sidy will all be ending contracts (Sidy is unguaranteed.)
