The NBA is back! But with most good news, something bad usually comes with it. It's the whole Yin-Yang thing, I guess. Game one of the season put the Rockets and the Thunder on the floor, and both teams rubbed the Spurs' misses in their faces. Will the team be okay because we have Victor Wembanyama and have righted the ship? Of course. But that doesn't change the facts.
The Spurs had several draft misses they want back
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You probably didn't think much of the name Ajay Mitchell before tonight, but if you've been watching the game, you learned it tonight. The man has made an impact, putting up 16 points on 50% FG and 50% 3PT. He was a second-round pick that the Thunder have been developing after he signed a two-way deal with them when they traded with the Knicks for him in the 2024 draft.
The Silver and Black were on the clock just a few picks prior and made a trade of their own with the Indiana Pacers for Juan Nunez. Spurs Nation has yet to see Nunez play stateside in the NBA or the G-League, and at this rate, they won't. The crafty point guard from Spain has suffered two major injuries recently, with the latest requiring surgery on his knee. With the current guard rotation, I doubt that SA ever brings him over.
It wouldn't hurt as much if these players weren't so close to San Antonio's grasp, only to end up in the hands of their most heated rivals. Unfortunately, that's the reality. Alperen Sengun was within reach, but the team reached for Joshua Primo instead. The front office selected Primo with a lottery pick when he was projected to be a late first-rounder at best.
Meanwhile, Sengun is out here looking like the second coming of Nikola Jokic. I don't want to give too much love to a Houston Rockets player. He's there now. But look at his number and tell me he couldn't have played next to The Alien with great success. He dropped 39 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block against the reigning defending champions on opening night on the road.
Jalen Williams didn't play tonight, but he didn't have to. We watched him get a ring for his massive contribution to OKC's dominant title run last season. We know what he can do. He's an all-star in year four. He made the Third All-NBA Team and averaged 21 points.
Jeremy Sochan was drafted three spots ahead of him. I've been a big fan of the Polish Prince, but it would be a lie to [suggest that he wasn't behind](https://airalamo.com/nba-analysts-says-quiet-part-out-loud-about-jeremy-sochan) Williams in the development department. The Thunder's do-it-all off-guard just signed a $287 million max contract this offseason. On Sochan's side, the rookie extension deadline just passed, and he's without a deal.
The Spurs are in a fantastic place because of Victor Wembanyama, and it's easy to claim that everything is okay because of that, but it does not excuse so many misses in the draft. Wemby was an obvious choice. The others required doing a little more work and projecting, and they missed. As long as everything is steady from now on, all is forgiven, but that doesn't mean it's forgotten.