The performance of Victor Wembanyama against the G League Ignite solidified the hype surrounding his future in the NBA. Many teams have been preparing for his draft for several years and more teams may join in their pursuit of landing the No. 1 overall pick in next May’s lottery.
“Victor distorts basketball reality,” one GM told ESPN on Wednesday. “The tank/trade market will really shift after that showing. It feels like last night will start a race to the bottom like we’ve never seen.”
As a GM on a team with a chance to contend for the 2023 No. 1 overall pick told ESPN on Wednesday morning: “He’s a 7-foot-4 Durant who blocks shots — and he’s not even close to what he’s going to be. He will be the most hyped player since LeBron.”
Front offices had a better chance to sell a tanking strategy to both owners and fans after seeing Wembanyama play against the G League Ignite. Multiple top executives have said their ownership groups have expressed a better understanding of the transformational value of drafting Wembanyama. Plus, the presence of Scoot Henderson as a consolation prize at No. 2 is incredibly appealing.
The possibility of landing either Wembanyama or Henderson is 27 percent for the teams with the three worst records.
