The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery is not just any regular lottery, it is a Generational Talent NBA Draft Lottery. The grand prize is the chance to draft Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French phenom who is set to be the next big thing in the NBA. Wembanyama possesses all the qualities that NBA teams look for in a player, including height, wingspan, shot-blocking, 3-point shooting, dribbling, and mid-range abilities. He is just 19 years old and still a work in progress, which makes him an even more exciting prospect for NBA teams.
The lottery gives 14 teams holding odds of winning a chance to fantasize about landing Wembanyama. The anticipation for this lottery is on the same level as it was for Ralph Sampson, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and LeBron James. In the social media age, it is even louder, despite many fans only being familiar with Wembanyama from video clips of games played in faraway places, as he did not play high school or college ball in the States. However, NBA executives have scouted him since he was barely a teenager and know what value he can bring to a team.
Here’s a look at the teams involved in the lottery, along with their odds, and how they’ll absorb this generational talent and if life will ever be the same.
Detroit Pistons (14% chance)
The Pistons are an ideal destination for Wembanyama because they’ve made all the right draft decisions over the last few years and have a savvy GM in Troy Weaver to create the right environment for a franchise player. If he joins Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Bojan Bogdanovic, along with James Wiseman and Jalen Duren, Detroit the stamp of authenticity. The Pistons trio of Wemby, Cunningham, and Ivey would be especially delicious because they fill different spots on the floor.
Houston Rockets (14%)
The Rockets bring the most tenuous situation of the three teams holding the best odds of winning the lottery. Their best players are young and undisciplined. There’s no solid veteran presence nor an All-Star on the roster. A losing culture has settled in with the Rockets, who have won 17, 20, and 22 games the last three seasons. Wembanyama needs to join players who are not reckless shooters, lacking on defense, and indifferent to winning. It is essential to build a mix around Wembanyama, not necessarily adding Wembanyama to the mix.
San Antonio Spurs (14%)
The Spurs have a young roster full of developing players. Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan are 23 and under, and it would be an ideal situation for Wembanyama. He would get excellent instruction from the greatest coach of all time, and the Spurs are a top-notch organization. There’s plenty of available cap space for San Antonio to add solid help from trades or free agency.
Charlotte Hornets (12.5%)
The Hornets desperately need a star who’s bigger than the guy who owns the team. Michael Jordan still owns a majority of the team. The Hornets would experience an awakening with Wembanyama. Keeping LaMelo Ball, who’s up for an extension, becomes much, much easier. Charlotte’s also sitting on a treasure chest of cash, with roughly $39 million available under the salary cap next season, to use on free agents if they choose.
In conclusion, 14 NBA franchises will hold their breaths on draft lottery night, hoping to land Wembanyama. Each team brings exciting potential for the French phenom, but it ultimately depends on how well he fits and the environment built around him. The possibilities of possible duos and trios with Cade Cunningham and LaMelo Ball are certainly exciting. A new era in the NBA is about to begin, and all eyes are on the lottery to see which franchise will land Victor Wembanyama.
