Pitt’s Wanamaker to attend Spurs’ mini-camp

Add Pittsburgh’s Brad Wanamaker to the list of attendees at the San Antonio Spurs’ mini-camp this coming week.

As Project Spurs’ Paul Garcia reported, the Spurs will hold a free agent mini-camp this week and Wanamaker will make his case to play in the NBA.

But who is Wanamaker?

Wanamaker is a combo guard and the best defensive player during the 2011 NCAA Tournament for the first seeded Pitt Panthers. After going undrafted in Thursday’s NBA Draft, he will be looking for an NBA home like a number of college stars.

Brad, like every player coming out of Pitt excels on the defensive end. He can guard three positions and is a very good rebounder for his size. He isn’t afraid of physical contact and often mixes it up in the paint with the big guys despite being 6’4” and 210 pounds.

For short stints, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon played him at the four when his frontcourt got into foul trouble. His game most closely resembles Memphis Grizzlies’ Tony Allen when making an NBA comparison. 

This further point’s towards the Spurs renewed focus on defense. After trading for Kawhi Leonard and now offering a tryout to Wanamaker, the Spurs are recognizing they have a matchup problem when Richard Jefferson is guarding big, physical small forwards such as Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant or Paul Pierce.

What do you think Spurs fans? Do you like the new direction the Spurs are going or would you have preferred to keep George Hill and build through the draft with late first-round picks and conservative moves like the Spurs have traditionally done?

(photo: daylife.com)