The San Antonio Spurs are widely expected to select French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft.
However, there has been some pre-draft speculation the Spurs might be listening to potential trade offers. They’re not. Make no mistake, it’s pretty much a done deal the Spurs are going to select Wembanyama to start the draft on Thursday.
“We’re not picking up that phone,” the Spurs source told spurstalk.com “He is a chance to reorient the entire franchise and build upon the experiences and successes of the last 30 years. He’s that type of player and, more importantly, that type of person.”
Why would the Spurs even consider trade the pick? Wembanyama is potential franchise altering player and the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. He could be another Tim Duncan for the Spurs, who led the Spurs to four NBA titles during his career.
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama is a once-in-a-generation combination of size, skill, speed and shooting. The 19-year-old Wembanyama possesses an 8-foot wingspan, can handle the basketball like a point guard, has an impressive perimeter shot and is capable of providing shot-changing defense at the rim while defending an array of positions.
Wembanyama averaged 21.6 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 3.0 BPG for the Metropolitans 92 in France during the past season. He led the Metropolitans 92 to the championship round, where they lost to Monaco.
