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Spurs add a raw, toolsy teenage point guard late in the first round

Long, athletic Spurs point guard are words that don't seem to belong in the same sentence, yet here we are.

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Well, there were no sexy trade-ups, but the Spurs drafted Dejounte Murray, a 19-year-old, 6'5, 183-pound point guard with a 6'9 wingspan from the University of Washington.

Here is a Tweet from Murray, confirming the fact. Give him a follow, won't you?

Murray, a Seattle native, is a one-and-done who averaged 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He actually led the Huskies in rebounding and steals (1.8) and, uh... turnovers (3.2) per game while ranking second in scoring and assists.

College Stats

Here's his college bio:

Started all 34 games... named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Second-Team and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team... scored double figures in 26 of 34 games, including all of the last 10 games... had ten 20+ scoring efforts and two games with 30+ points... tallied 10 rebounds and eight points in first collegiate start... first career double-double in the fourth game of the season, with 21 points and 11 rebounds against Gonzaga... career-high 34 points in overtime win over Arizona State... went 10-of-14 from the field and 14-of-18 free throws while adding 11 rebounds and 6 assists... two double-doubles on the season... had career-best 13 rebounds against Utah... scored 30 points and had nine rebounds in first round NIT game against Long Beach State... led all Pac-12 freshmen averaging 16.1 points, 4.4 assists, 1.8 steals and second averaging 6 rebounds... led the team in scoring 11 times... set record for assists by a freshman in program history with 151... finished second in all-time freshman points (548) and steals (62), and third in rebounds with 203.

I won't pretend to know a thing about him, but according to his draft profile, he's not the kind of prospect we typically associate with the Spurs. He's long, athletic, has a great first step and gets to the rim with ease and he's supposedly a creative passer. He's a good defender for his position and a great rebounder, but his weaknesses are shooting and turnovers, which makes him an odd fit for PATFO. I guess that's what Chip Engelland and Chad Forcier are for, right?

For what it's worth, most mocks out there had Murray picked between 14-20, so the Spurs could've gotten good value here at 29.

NBADraft.net had him at 20, to the Nets. So did ESPN.com's Chad Ford.  And also The Vertical. And DraftExpressCBS Sports, sort of (their mock still had the Pacers at 20).  Fox Sports had him going 16th to the Celtics. Bleacher Report had him at 14, to the Bulls.

See, Bill Simmons approves, and he gets paid millions of dollars to be know about sports.

The full Draft Express scouting report can be found here.

I can't embed the strengths and weakness videos, but I can link to them.

I can, however, link to a highlight video.

Here's the interview Murray gave after being drafted:

THE MODERATOR: If you could please start with an opening statement about your feelings about today.

DEJOUNTE MURRAY: I mean, I'm just blessed to be a first-round pick. I stayed positive and let God do His job.

Q. You're about to join a very storied franchise, San Antonio Spurs. Can you talk about what it's like entering a team coached by Gregg Popovich and with veterans such as Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard. How is that going to help your game

DM: That's going to help my game a lot. Those are all vets that you just named. Great coach, probably one of the greatest coaches that ever coached, and I'm just excited to go learn from all the vets, pick their brains about the game, on the court, off the court and just get to work.

Q. Did you work out with the Spurs prior to the draft?

DM: No, I actually met with them. That was the first team I met with. We just had a long interview and it went really well.

Q. What was said during that interview?

DM: I mean, everything. What every other team pretty much asked me.

Q. Clearly had to be some mixed emotions there. You had to kind of sit for a while but then it's the Spurs and a team that's vying for a championship every year. Is it kind of bittersweet? You had to sit so long, but the situation you find yourself in.

DM: I mean, like I said, yeah, I had to sit a long time, but I didn't pout. I didn't try to show nothing negative, tried to stay positive, and I feel like I'm going to the best organization in the NBA. Like you said, a team that contends for a championship every year. I'm just blessed to be in a position and blessed to be a part of their organization.

Q. What can you bring to a team that just won 67 games as a rookie?

DM: You know, high motor, like Kawhi Leonard; a dude that's willing to work, and I'll never settle for less, never get comfortable. I love working on my game, and I feel I can help them out in anything. I feel like my potential of doing everything and my faith and the heart I have for the game and the love I have for the game, I feel like I'll help them out
really well.

Q. What do you think, other than that, you can bring to the Spurs, other than that fantastic suit?

DM: I mean, man, I feel like I have the ability to play point guard, big, long, athletic. I love defense. That's why I feel like I fit right in with their program, organization.

Q. What do you feel would be a success for you in your rookie season? You're going to be on a veteran squad. You're probably going to have to battle for playing time. What do you think will be success for you?

DM: You know, just going in with the mindset that I've been having my whole life. I've been underrated my whole life, so I went against all odds and just keep working. Going in and learning from them, the vets, and trying to push them.

Q. Can you talk about what it's like now that you'll be learning from players such as a Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili?

DM: I feel like it's going to help me out, help my game out. I'm a dude that likes to do everything. I like to score the ball, working on my jump shot. I can get to the basket. I like that I can make my teammates better. I can defend. I just do everything, and learning from them is just a bonus.

Q. And I guess defense is preached very much down in San Antonio.

DM: Absolutely.

Q. What skill do you think you need to work on most as you transition to the next level?

DM: Everything. Like I said, I never get comfortable. I could be a great shooter. I never stop shooting, like Steph Curry. He's a great shooter. I'm pretty sure he still works on it every day countless hours. I feel like I've got to work on everything as far as getting bigger, getting stronger, and in basketball, just working on everything.

The Spurs obviously needed a point guard for the future (or even the present) so I'm all aboard with this pick. By all accounts Murray is a high-character kid and a worker with a lot of upside. I'm not excited that he shot 41.6 percent in college and 28.8 from downtown, but Leonard couldn't shoot in college either, so I'll be optimistic. At least it's not another draft-and-stash.

More to come...