The Spurs are preparing first-round pick Joshua Primo for the possibility that he may spend part of his rookie season in the G League, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. At age 18, the former Alabama guard was among the youngest players taken in this year’s draft and he may need time in Austin to get ready for the NBA.
“I’m open to anything that is going to get me extra reps and get me better,” he said. “I know I am young, and any way I can get better, I am up to it. But I haven’t heard anything yet.”
Primo has several teammates who spent time in the G League early in their careers, and they have been selling him on the benefits.
“All the guys have told me the G League is there to help,” Primo said. “If I am there, I am going to use it to the best of my ability.”
There’s more from San Antonio:
- Al-Farouq Aminu, one of the few veterans in the Spurs’ camp, is on his seventh team in 11 years after being traded from Chicago as part of the DeMar DeRozan deal, Orsborn adds in the same piece. The 31-year-old is trying to bounce back from knee problems that have limited him to 41 combined games over the past two seasons. “It is basketball … We understand the business,” Aminu said. “I remember a vet told me, ‘Control what you can control.’ All I can do is put out max effort.”
- Growing up, Doug McDermott thought he would be a good fit with the Spurs because of their approach to the game, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express News. At age 29 and with seven years in the NBA, McDermott got to San Antonio over the summer in a sign-and-trade. “Doug can fit in anywhere,” teammate Bryn Forbes said. “When you can shoot the ball and score the ball, it’s not hard to fit in. You can just kind of mold and adapt to a lot of different situations.”
- The Spurs’ medical staff expects center Zach Collins to return “after Christmas,” coach Gregg Popovich told reporters (Twitter link from Orsborn). The free agent addition has played a combined 11 games over the past two seasons and has undergone multiple foot surgeries.
There are questions from draft experts as to why Spurs took Primo so early. It might be because they were looking to send any draftee they took down to the GL and Primo was the best remaining that would be likely to agree with it. The Spurs probably ask all the likely draftees.
Devin Vassell did not spend time in the GL, but he is unusually smart (as demonstrated by defensive anticipation).
By my research, Vassell was the first Spur firstrounder NOT to play in the GL or overseas since George Hill drafted in 2008! 10 straight players, 8 to the GL, 2 foreign who did not work out: Samanic, KJohnson, Walker, White, Murray, foreign fail, Kyle Anderson, foreign fail, Cory Joseph, US fail, Hill. I quit counting before that.
I think there is no doubt the young Primo goes to the GL. More the question, if Popovich thinks Vassell should have too. He did okay but had a PER of 11, 35%3pt. Is that better learning more “game” where he can dominate?— never did at Florida St.
Secondrounders: Joe Weiskamp is signed two-way, so he will spend time in the GL too. Tre Jones, younger than Tyus, did too.
The link has a paywall.