The state of the Spurs heading into the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery

There’s no playoff basketball in San Antonio for a second straight season, and the discourse around the franchise has held steady while the Hawks, Bucks, Clippers, and Suns duke it out for a shot at NBA supremacy. And if the Spurs hope to recapture their status as title contenders anytime soon, they must play their cards right during what’s already shaping up to be a crucial offseason.

With more than $50M in cap room heading into the summer, free agency will undoubtedly play a vital role in how PATFO reconstruct the roster. A lucky break in the 2021 Draft Lottery could alter San Antonio’s trajectory for years to come, though landing the 12th overall pick is the most likely scenario for the Silver and Black.

Selecting in the teens doesn’t automatically mean you can’t obtain an organizational building block. But considering nearly 60% of every draft class is out of the league by their fifth season, the odds of unearthing the next Jimmy Butler or Nikola Jokic are slim to none. That said, San Antonio has an excellent reputation for unearthing underappreciated talent.

From Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker to Derrick White and Dejount Murray, the Spurs made the most out of their late first and second-rounders. Their scouting department and developmental staff are practically unrivaled over the past two decades, and there’s no reason Gregg Popovich and company can’t pinpoint another valuable addition with the 12th overall pick.

Ricky O’Donnell, Basketball Editor for SB Nation, joins me on the debut episode of the Alamo City Limits Podcast to discuss the state of the San Antonio Spurs heading into the offseason and how they should approach the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft.