Report: The Spurs host a pre-draft workout with a quartet of prospects

The San Antonio Spurs conducted pre-draft workouts with Kai Jones, Trendon Watford, DJ Funderburk, and Devontae Shuler earlier this Tuesday.

This group of players ranges from projected lottery picks and late first-rounders to potential undrafted free agents and fringe second-rounders.

Another interesting takeaway is PATFO seemingly turning their attention towards a collection of forwards in Jones, Watford, and Funderburk, after hosting a surplus of guards.

The only guard in this quartet, Devontae Shuler, will likely find himself on a Summer League roster this August, even if the Ole Miss senior doesn’t hear his name called later this month.

Kai Jones, the sophomore forward out of Texas, has seen a meteoric rise on big boards across the country. The Spurs conducted a pre-draft interview with the versatile big man in June.

Watford is an intriguing prospect in his own right, taking home All-SEC Second-Team and All-SEC Tournament First-Team honors this season as he helped LSU reach their first NCAA Tournament since 2019.

As for Funderburk, the North Carolina State product is another two-way contract candidate who could fill out a G League roster. His per-game stats won’t blow you away, but he showed a knack for getting to the line.

There’s no turning back for each of these prospects as they opted to keep their name in the talent pool past the final withdrawal deadline that came and went on July 19 at 4 PM CST.

These latest workouts bring the total confirmed number of players that San Antonio has made pre-draft contact with up to 29. While the Spurs are doing their due diligence, there will undoubtedly be more news in the coming days.

The 2021 NBA Draft will take place on July 29 at 7 PM CST at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. ESPN and ABC will televise the first round, and the second round will air exclusively on ESPN.