San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama revealed that he’s already being contacted by players and prospects around the NBA for possible team-ups.
“Yeah, I’ve received some messages – even from prospects… It’s a whole new world that I’m eager to discover. One day, I’ll have to be involved in this [roster construction], I guess.”
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Wembanyama is a rookie who just finished the season averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks. He’s almost a lock for Rookie of the Year and All-Defensive First Team, probably finishing as runner-up in the DPOY race to Rudy Gobert.
There’s no question that Wemby is a generational prospect and has a play-style that stars would love to play with. He is a 7’4″ center who doesn’t need to be ball-dominant to be impactful. His ideal co-star would be a playmaking point guard who can maximize his vertical reach with dunks while also taking the scoring load and getting everyone else involved.
It doesn’t seem like Wemby will ever reveal the players that hit him up to team up, but it’s clear some people have already identified him as a player they can win a title with, if not embark on a dynasty given Wemby’s age.
Should Wembanyama Involve Himself In Roster Construction?
Players getting involved with team-building is a slippery slope, as teams have to find a delicate balance in terms of the power that they share with the individual player. LeBron James is the perfect example, as the four-time champion has heavy input on what his team does, often recruiting players to join him. While he’s won many titles this way, he’s left most of his teams with threadbare assets that constantly limit their future flexibility. He’s often called ‘LeGM’ by fans for his involvement in team decisions.
Luka Doncic used to not share his inputs on roster-building, but then he watched Jalen Brunson walk away from the Mavericks in 2022, prompting Luka to push the Mavericks into trading for Kyrie Irving and acquiring more lob threats for him. Given the Mavericks’ success since these moves were made, Doncic’s input has instantly been justified with success.
Wembanyama is a superstar talent, so it’s inevitable for his input to be sought out on roster moves in the future. It might be too early for the Spurs to break off the development path they have in mind, but a few seasons ending with big losses prompt teams to make drastic changes. If the Spurs want to keep Wemby, they’ll inevitably have to discuss the players they’re targetting with him.
We have no sample size on what kind of players Wemby would want to target as teammates. The Spurs roster this season was lackluster in what seemed to be an intentional tanking move. They won’t be able to do the same next season, so it’ll be fascinating to see what they do. If Wemby pushed them to acquire a star guard like Trae Young or Darius Garland, I doubt they would say no.
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