NBA Draft: Finding the perfect fit for each of the top prospects

Perfect Fit #2: Portland Trail Blazers and Victor Wembanyama

Finding a perfect fit for Victor Wembanyama is both difficult and easy at the same time. On one hand, any team that has the chance to draft him will move heaven and earth on their roster to create an ideal developmental situation for such a high-value prospect. On the other hand, figuring out where in the frontcourt to play Wembanyama and how to fit a team around him is a tough endeavor.

What Wemby needs to reach his ceiling is a fellow big man who can soak up some contact, the chance to be a weakside rim protector, and the space to operate from the perimeter without a heavy dose of on-ball creation reps. With that mix of roles, Wembanyama would be set to evolve into an archetype of center that no one has ever seen before in the NBA.

Of all of the teams in the lottery, the one with the best infrastructure to support Wembanyama is Portland. The Trail Blazers have an all-NBA guard in Damian Lillard, a pair of exciting prospects in Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe, alongside a solid group of stocky veteran frontcourt players like Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic. Imagining Wembanyama making plays like these should be a dream come true for Portland fans.

Getting drafted by the Blazers would give Wembanyama the chance to develop into the perfect final form of his prospect pathway. He could be a scorer without having the full pressure or attention of an NBA offense. He’ll get to be an impact defender while Nurkic soaks up minutes and contact. Most importantly, Wembanyama will have a team ready to either contend or rebuild completely around him.