The San Antonio Spurs failed to live up to the hype after being touted as the preseason favorites to win an NBA championship after reloading with the additions of LaMarcus Aldridge and David West in the offseason. The reality is that the Spurs couldn’t keep up with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs when their lack of young talent was clearly exposed. San Antonio will have the opportunity to add a quality young piece at the NBA Draft along with each of the other four teams in their division. Here is a look at the biggest NBA Draft team need for each Southwest Division team.
San Antonio Spurs (67-15)
Biggest Draft Need: Point Guard
Tony Parker is rapidly moving towards the end of his career and Patty Mills isn’t capable of being the starting point guard for a championship contender. The same could be said for Manu Ginobili and whatever other shooting guards this team possesses. The Spurs have a couple of different areas of need but the point guard position is clearly the most glaring. San Antonio needs to address a need at this spot with the 29th pick at the NBA Draft for both the immediate and long-term future of the franchise. They have some cornerstones with LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard, but they need a franchise point guard of the future to keep their place at the top of the Southwest Division.
Dallas Mavericks (42-40)
Biggest Draft Need: Best Player Available
Seven of the top eight leaders in minutes per game for the Mavericks will be 30 or older next season, so it’s very clear they need to get younger in the very near future. That might change if Dirk Nowitzki decides to opt out. Dallas can afford to get younger at every single position and while they will almost certainly select the best available player they should narrow their focus to the best pure scorer that is available to them. The Mavericks won’t make their selection until the 46th pick of the second round so they will certainly have a tough time finding a player that can contribute to their lineup anytime soon.
Memphis Grizzlies (42-40)
Biggest Draft Need: Pure Scoring Guard
The Grizzlies own the 17th overall pick and while they have a couple of needs to address there is none bigger than the need for some scoring help. Memphis is far too slim at the guard position and there is a good chance that Mike Conley could be on his way out in free agency. The Grizzlies will have to find somebody that can help them at the offensive end of the floor and it won’t be a surprise if they selected the best available pure scoring guard.
Houston Rockets (41-41)
Biggest Draft Need: Center
Houston ranked at or near the bottom of the NBA in most major defensive categories and their improvement on that side of the basketball will have to begin with the addition of a true center that can protect the rim. Dwight Howard is set to become a free agent this summer after opting out and the Rockets need to be proactive replacing him. They were easily the worst defensive team in the Southwest Division. Houston won’t make its first selection until after the first round but with two second round picks they need to address an obvious area of need.
New Orleans Pelicans (30-52)
Biggest Draft Need: Shooting Guard
If there is a silver lining to a disappointing season for the Pelicans where they finished dead last in the Southwest Division, it is that they now have the sixth-overall pick for this year’s NBA Draft. That will give New Orleans the opportunity to add to a core that features one of the most dominant young big men in the NBA in Anthony Davis and their biggest need is at the shooting guard position. The Pelicans need more help from their guards in order to compliment what Davis does so well in the paint so expect them to target a talented pure scoring guard with the sixth-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
