When it comes to the NBA Draft, there is no such thing as a ‘can’t-miss’ kind of player. Victor Wembanyama, a French superstar, would come the closest if there were. As a result, he has caught the attention of dozens of scouts.
This year, Wembanyama looks just stunning on the pitch. He’s got the shot-blocking chops of Dikembe Mutombo, the ball-handling skills of Chris Paul, and the long-range shooting prowess of Buddy Hield.
The 19-year-old is widely expected to be selected as the first overall choice in this year’s NBA Draft, and thus, many clubs will jostle for position to choose him. Take a look at the three possible teams that have the best shot of doing just that.
3. Charlotte Hornets
This year’s Charlotte Hornets team has been a complete and utter failure. With LaMelo Ball’s health issues and the uncertainty surrounding Miles Bridges’ future, the team has been in dire need of another scorer.
If Ball’s health continues to deteriorate, the Hornets would be smart to put an end to his season. It’s attractive to think that they’ll have Wemby and Ball for the next decade, so they may as well sink the rest of the season.
2. Detroit Pistons
The youthful core that the Detroit Pistons have assembled is already among the most remarkable and promising in the NBA. Their prospects of making the playoffs were all but dashed when they lost Cade Cunningham for the year.
So, even if they lose, they may still come out on top. While waiting for Cunningham’s recovery, they may allow their young stars like Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, and Sadiq Bey to learn from their errors and develop into better players, increasing their chances of earning the first overall selection.
1. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have some of the league’s youngest players. Unfortunately, coach Stephen Silas hasn’t done a good job of nurturing their abilities. They aren’t going down, but they are terrible.
However, Wembanyama has the potential to be the game-changer for this team, much as the legendary Hakeem Olajuwon did for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. There has never been a more dynamic and adaptable jumbo frontcourt than the one that would be formed by pairing Jabari Smith Jr. with Alperen Sengun.