There has been talk of Charlotte “not deserving” the No. 1 pick based on years of mismanagement. And sure, the Hornets felt, for long stretches of last season, like the most directionless franchise in basketball. Short-sighted moves have held them back in recent years. Firing a promising young coach for the coach you fired a few years back doesn’t feel like the move of a well-managed team.
And yet, the Hornets started to play quality defense down the stretch of last season — correcting perhaps their biggest weakness from the James Borrego era. They’re the team that was smart enough to draft LaMelo Ball third overall when there was a real chance he would’ve slipped further. And suddenly, with Wembanyama in the mix, Charlotte has the most exciting young duo in basketball and a very clear path out of NBA purgatory.
Wembanyama is probably the best prospect since LeBron James, and for once that statement isn’t a vast over-exaggeration. At 7-foot-4, he’s capable of nimbly navigating traffic off the dribble and creating his own shot at all three levels. His jumper is pure, his footwork is in rare air for such a tall human, and he’s a good passer for his position.
Then there’s the defensive end, where — and excuse me while I cackle loudly — his 8-foot wingspan poses quite the rim deterrent for opposing offenses. He moves his feet well in space, he can recover better than any 7-footer because of his absurd length, and he’s going to be a perennial DPOY candidate so long as he’s healthy and engaged. The lack of strength is a concern, but more often than not Wemby makes up for it by just reaching further. He would put Charlotte on the map.
Check out our full scouting report on Victor Wembanyama here.
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