Wing prospects on the Spurs' radar: Rashad Vaughn, J.P. Tokoto and Pat Connaughton

The draft is upon us and the Spurs have been busy, looking at prospects to select with the 26th pick in the draft. Workouts and interviews are kept quiet in San Antonio -- like everything else the front office does -- but we do know that the Spurs have met with some players who could be in play with their first round pick. In this series we'll take a look at some of those potential targets. First off, wings.

With Marco Belinelli and Danny Green entering unrestricted free agency and Manu Ginobili undecided about his future, the Spurs could use an infusion of talent at the wing. Right now Kawhi Leonard seems like a lock to return and Kyle Anderson is under contract. Reggie Williams has an unguaranteed contract for the minimum, so the Spurs could bring him back but that sounds unlikely.

With that in mind, lat's take a look at three wings who worked out for San Antonio and might be wearing a Spurs cap on Thursday after the NBA draft: UNLV's Rashad Vaughn, North Carolina's J.P. Tokoto and Notre Dame's Pat Connaughton.

Rashad Vaughn

• Age: 18 years old
• Height: 6'5"
• Weight: 199 pounds.
• Position: Shooting guard.

College career

Vaughn is the youngest player in the draft. He's a one-and-done prospect who was a McDonald's All-American and considered a top 10 recruit when he joined UNLV. While he didn't disappoint -- averaging 18 points on 38 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line -- his team did, in no small part because of chemistry problems. Vaughn's ball-dominant ways weren't the main reason but certainly contributed to the overall dysfunction of UNLV. The Runnin' Rebels also struggled with injuries and Vaughn suffered from that as well, having his season cut short by a meniscus tear.

Fit with the Spurs

Vaughn has his share of weaknesses, including ball-stopping tendencies and defensive inconsistency, two deadly sins for any player looking to get minutes under Gregg Popovich. His strengths, however, are very intriguing for a player that could be available so late in the draft.

Vaughn should be able to at the very least be a reliable floor-spacer early on in his career and he flashes potential as a shot creator despite not having elite quickness. In a few years, he could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate with that skill set and fill the role Ginobili will left vacant.

Outlook

His outlook is all over the place. He could be James Anderson, Dion Waiters or Khris Middleton. At 26, the Spurs can afford to take a chance on someone who has as much upside as Vaughn.

J.P. Tokoto

• Age: 21 years old.
• Height: 6'6"
• Weight: 196 pounds.
• Position: Shooting guard.

College career

Tokoto left North Carolina after his junior year and at almost 22 years of age doesn't seem to have as much upside as other prospects. His insane athleticism, however, is tantalizing. In his last two years at UNC he got significant minutes and was a highlight machine, especially in transition. He not only used his physical tools to dunk but also contributed on the boards, averaging almost six per game, and by being his team's best perimeter defender. His outside shot never developed, which is why he could easily fall to the second round, but he worked hard to make up for his limited skill set.

Fit with the Spurs

Tokoto can't shoot, so he doesn't even try. He took only 32 three-pointers in 38 games his junior year despite playing almost 30 minutes a game. His 61 percent from the free throw line points to a problem with his form and touch, so it's unlikely he will ever become more than an average outside shooter. That obviously makes him an awkward fit on a Spurs team that wants its wings to let the ball fly.

His other skills, however, could make him a valuable addition. He can pass, averaging over four assists a game in college, and defend. He sometimes gets lost in screens but even Kawhi Leonard had that problem early on, so his upside on that end remains high.

Outlook

Right now his best case scenario seems to be Cory Brewer but if he ever develops a three-point shot -- which is admittedly not likely --, he could become a Terrence Ross-like role player.

Pat Connaughton

• Age: 22 years old.
• Height: 6'5"
• Weight: 215 pounds.
• Position: Shooting guard.

College career

Connaughton played four years at Notre Dame, making the NCAA tournament in three of those seasons. He got better with age and so did the Fighting Irish teams he played for. This past season Notre Dame won the ACC championship and made the Elite Eight before losing a close game to the Kentucky Wildcats. Connaughton shot a fantastic 42 percent from beyond the arc his senior year and had the max vertical recorded at the combine, further proving he's not a ground-bound sniper and raising a draft stock that had been deflated by the fact that he could decide to play professional baseball instead of basketball.

Fit with the Spurs

Connaughton was an elite shooter at the college level and the Spurs could always use someone who is comfortable spotting up and generally playing off the ball. That's what makes him an intriguing prospect for San Antonio: unlike other more talented but volatile players, Connaughton knows how to be a role player. There will be no complaining if he's asked to stand on a corner and move the ball.

The questions marks are on the defensive side. Connaughton played power forward at times for the undersized Fighting Irish and doesn't have the lateral quickness to be a lockdown perimeter defender. Then again, neither does Marco Belinelli and his shooting kept him in the rotation.

Outlook

Connaughton's rebounding ability in college suggests he could play some small forward despite not being particularly long. If that translates, he could be a Jared Dudley-type who does a little bit of everything and hits his open shots. More likely, he will be a fringe rotation player like Hollis Thompson whose shooting keeps him on the floor, but that's not a bad haul with the 26th pick.