Karma Power Rankings: Who Deserves Victor Wembanyama?
It’s not a secret that Victor Wembanyama is one of the most hyped-up NBA Draft prospects ever. The 2023 NBA Draft lottery is Monday and if you haven’t already, read Karl’s mock draft.
I want to answer a different question. Who actually deserves Wembanyama? Better yet, let’s make it a power rankings – karma edition!
14: Charlotte Hornets
Some here at the site are rooting for this scenario to happen. To me, this would be the single worst outcome possible.
The Hornets should not be allowed to get their hands on this guy. They are harboring the domestic violence guy with Miles Bridges. LaMelo Ball is slowly morphing into Trae Young. Not in a good way. This team is so boring that Michael Jordan wants out. There is literally nothing exciting about this team other than Mark Williams. Yes, a young center that is actually thriving.
13: Portland Trail Blazers
snoozefest city. I’m over the Damian Lillard thing. The cool Dame time highlights get old when you never win anything. Since the year 2000, this team has ONE Conference Finals appearance. This team wouldn’t even exist if Nike wasn’t in the backyard. It’s also not like Lillard is young. Dame will be 33 in July. We’re talking about a two year window… maybe. It makes no sense and the karma gods should take that into consideration.
12: Indiana Pacers
You thought I would go higher here. Think again!
Didn’t we learn our lesson with the whole Sabonis / Turner pairing? It doesn’t work. It never worked. The Pacers don’t need another high usage big. They finally got Turner really humming and he just cashed in on an extension. Also, it’s Indiana. History of basketball but nothing that has any real big market glamor.
11: Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have a 1.8% chance and they only have themselves to blame. That’s why they rank 11th on the karma list. They made their team mediocre and deserve to stay that way. The Nikola Vucevic trade was a major L. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Patrick Williams core stinks. Well, stinks enough for a meaningless 9 seed. When they actually start to tank the basketball karma gods will listen.
10: Houston Rockets
Did anybody put a worse product on the floor last year? It was a bunch of young guys trying to play hero ball to get their numbers while playing dreadful team basketball. They also hired Ime Udoka so take that for whatever it’s worth.
9: Washington Wizards
I talked about this in the Johnny Davis post I just did. They turn the card in for painfully average players over and over again. They continue to lie to themselves over the Brad Beal thing. They don’t have a gm. They might need a new owner soon. 89% capacity last year ranked last in the league. This is a franchise that doesn’t deserve to be bailed out. The Commanders just got a new owner. Let’s not get too crazy.
8: New Orleans Pelicans
I would have the Pelicans higher but they wasted Anthony Davis and have a 0.5% chance. The only reason they are 8 is the hope that this makes Zion show up. Then again, we have no idea if that’s happening either way.
7: Toronto Raptors
We’re starting to get interesting but again, the Raptors have a 1% chance after barely missing the playoffs. Have the Raptors done enough positive things to warrant a miracle move up? After letting Nick Nurse go, I’d say no.
6: Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC has a 1.7% chance but how fun would it be to watch the twin towers of Chet and Wemby? It sounds like a Beavis and Butthead spinoff. Plug those two with Shai and whichever Jalen Williams tickles your fancy? Oh, my! It’s a fun outcome but I can’t go higher given the odds. They have been bad for long enough.
5: Dallas Mavericks
The Kyrie factor drops the Mavs down the list but I feel like Luka deserves this. It can be everything that we hoped Kristaps Porzingis would become and more. I don’t care that the Mavs tanked the rest of the season. In fact, I think they moved up the pecking order because of it. Dallas is a huge market and free agents never pick them for whatever reason. Luka and Wemby would be a blast.
4: Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have the best odds after a 17 win season and are semi fun. That’s a hard balance but it’s what the Pistons are. Pairing Wemby with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey? The only reason I have Detroit four is because they do have Jalen Duran and he would feel lost at that point. Also, it’s Detroit. If Wembanyama helps land them max free agents the world might burn to the ground.
3: Orlando Magic
They never got the title out of the Shaq and Penny duo. Penny’s knees and bad free throw shooting by Nick Anderson ended would could have been a special run. The Magic get stronger vibes to land the selection after correctly choosing Paolo Banchero a year ago. The Magic could built a mountain sized team with Bol Bol and Franz Wagner. Get a guard in there who can play and that’s a future title contender.
2: Utah Jazz
The Jazz tried to tank. Danny Ainge is just so good at his job that they didn’t totally nail doing it. The Rudy Gobert trade alone should give the karma gods strong consideration to give the Jazz this selection. If you give Wemby to Ainge along with all the picks they have? The 4.5% will be tough to overcome but Utah has done as well of a job to rebuild this team overnight as any team ever has. Walker Kessler is already really good. So is Lauri Markannen. Give them one more big and let Danny hunt for the rest.
1: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have to be first. The last time they got Tim Duncan they made the most out of it. They created a dynasty and refused to tank even when it made sense to. Big Victor would give the Spurs a chance to start a similar type run. They deserve this one and I think we all know it.
