The Utah Jazz‘s trade of Donovan Mitchell on Thursday entered a new team into the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, so it’s high time to revisit which teams could tank for the 7-foot-3 Frenchman this season.
Wembanyama is considered a generational prospect, somewhere between LeBron James and Zion Williamson — with the skill set of Giannis Antetokounmpo — and any time one of them is on the horizon, the NBA’s non-contenders will stop at nothing to finish with one of the three worst records in the league and secure a 14% shot at him. Mysterious hamstring pulls, bizarre fourth-quarter lineups, late-season absences, undrafted rookie starters, it’s all on the table when a franchise-altering talent is on the horizon.
And the draft class does not dramatically drop off behind Wembanyama. Scoot Henderson made waves as a 17-year-old point guard for the G League Ignite last season, and he is hardly a consolation prize. The 6-foot-7 Thompson twins, Amen and Ausur, now playing in Overtime’s OTE league, round out a legit top four.
So, where will they be playing in 2023? Let’s rank the eight most likely teams from bad to worst.
8. New York Knicks
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Ball-handlers: Jalen Brunson • Derrick Rose • Immanuel Quickley
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Wings: R.J. Barrett • Julius Randle • Evan Fournier • Cam Reddish • Quentin Grimes • Obi Toppin
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Bigs: Mitchell Robinson • Isaiah Hartenstein • Jericho Sims
New York’s failed pursuit of Mitchell leaves them lacking a true star once again. The $104 million addition of Jalen Brunson to a team that won 37 games last season should theoretically make the Knicks a play-in tournament challenger, but it won’t be easy building chemistry with players who have been rumored in trades all summer, and that’s after Julius Randle’s clash with fans last season. Coach Tom Thibodeau’s hardline approach has a history of wearing thin, and it wouldn’t take much for the Knicks to free fall.
7. Washington Wizards
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Ball-handlers: Monte Morris • Delon Wright • Will Barton
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Wings: Bradley Beal • Deni Avdija • Corey Kispert • Kyle Kuzma • Rui Hachimura • Johnny Davis
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Bigs: Kristaps Porzingis • Daniel Gafford • Taj Gibson
Bradley Beal is the best player on any of the potentially terrible teams this season, but that…