Who should be tanking in 2023?
The 2022 NBA draft class was reported to be one of the weaker crops of recent years. Sure, there were blue chippers at the top of the pile, but depth was a concern. Whilst it remains to be seen how the 2022 rookie class fares, there is no doubt that the 2023 edition has a pair of very shiny baubles in Scoot Henderson and Victor Wembanyama.
For all the fascination around what Chet Holmgren could become, the playmaking and scoring mix of Paolo Banchero and the picture perfect jumpshot of Jabari Smith Jr, none hold the intrigue of Henderson or Wembanyama.
As a 17-year-old, Henderson was running rings around proven professionals in the G League, putting up a nightly 15/5/5 with 1.6 steals thrown in. He gives off young Derrick Rose vibes and still has substantial growth – both physically and especially basketball wise – left in him.
The term unicorn has been used so much over the past few years that it’s practically lost its significance. Wembanyama is the man to change that. At 7-foot-3, the Frenchman is bigger than compatriot Rudy Gobert but displays much of the on-ball ability that had scouts drooling over Kevin Durant 15 years ago. Still rail thin, the only weakness in Wembanyama’s game at this point is literally his physical weakness (though his handle could stand to get a touch tighter).
We’re still a year away from the 2023 NBA draft but with the reward of a potential generational talent or two awaiting, which teams should fire up the ol’ tank in season 2023?
Utah Jazz
This season’s most obvious new entry into the NBA’s Race to the Bottom is the Utah Jazz.
In giving up Gobert for 26 draft picks (subs – please check) and a raft of role players as well as reportedly engaging in talks regarding Donovan Mitchell, it’s clear the new front office wants to rebuild from the ground up.
In addition to shedding their All Stars, the Jazz also lost respected head coach Quin Snyder and traded Royce O’Neal. Expect them to actively shop Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson, as well as look to move on from Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley, both acquired as part of the Gobert package.
This season’s Jazz will be as painful to watch as their uniforms (the reintroduced Mountainscape threads, aside).
In all seriousness, if Danny Ainge can move all of his veterans reasonably quickly, the Jazz might struggle to hit the 20-win mark.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have pivoted nicely in their rebuild, picking up Benn Mathurin at the No. 6 spot in the most recent draft (remarkably, their highest pick since selecting Rik Smits second overall back in 1988) to join Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Chris Duarte. Do any of those players really jump off the page as potentially the best player on a championship contender, though?
What the Pacers need more than anything is a tentpole star to coalesce everything else that they’re doing.
Whilst Henderson and Haliburton would no doubt overlap somewhat, they’re both versatile enough to compliment each other. Wembanyama would be the goal, though. Especially given the franchise seems open to moving on from Turner.
The giant Frenchman hunting baskets in a two-man game with Haliburton would be a delight.
San Antonio Spurs
After years of treading water post-Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs are in full rebuild mode after trading Dejounte Murray to Atlanta.
As they always seem to do, San Antonio have procured some very interesting young pieces. They’ll pair Jeremy Sochan, Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham – each of them just 19 years old – with fellow youngsters Josh Primo, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson.
Incumbent big man Jakob Poeltl is still criminally underrated by most casual observers, though Wembanyama would be an immediate and substantial upgrade, whilst Henderson would fill an immediate need at the point guard position. Both would provide a level of athleticism not seen in a Spurs leading man since David Robinson was in his pomp.
Houston Rockets
The tank was already rolling in Houston, though the trade of Christian Wood and the buyout of John Wall shed the Rockets of their final two veterans with any chance of contributing to wins this season.
Following on from a 20-62 campaign, there is a chance that the Rockets could be even worse this time around as they blood Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Tari Eason and Smith.
Expect turnovers, ridiculous inefficiency and defense that falls somewhere between lax and non-existent. In short: expect losses.
At the same time, there is some genuinely exciting talent in Houston. Imagine Henderson running the show for these guys, or Wembanyama covering for Sengun at one end whilst stretching the floor for him at the other.
Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s almost a reflex action to talk about the Thunder in any article that discusses tanking, such is the efforts they’ve gone to in bottoming out. (An interesting aside, Sam Presti’s tank job bears remarkable similarities to what Sam Hinkie did in Philadelphia. One is lauded, the other was ran out of the industry. It’s never ceases to amaze how we always demonise the genuine trailblazers).
The Thunder have the makings of a very solid nucleus in the backcourt of Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, alongside Holmgren and Jalen Williams (not to be confused with fellow OKC draftee Jaylin Williams).
Given the obvious skill overlaps that both Wembanyama and Henderson present with their current young building blocks, is this the season that the Thunder at least try to win some basketball games?
Given they still have so many of their own draft picks as well as a plethora of picks from other teams, why not let your young colts try to build something on the court, safe in the knowledge that if another team lucks out and has a bad year, you probably own their draft pick anyway.
Orlando Magic
The Magic, finally embracing a long overdue rebuild over the past 18 months, have accrued some interesting pieces. Banchero and Franz Wagner could be the NBA’s next great forward combination. Both are huge, with great agility, shooting and playmaking. Wagner is already a good defender whilst Banchero has some potential at that end, too. Wendell Carter Jr. is a wonderful complimentary piece. Throw the returning Jono Isaac into that mix, as well. To be frank, that frontcourt looks loaded.
The backcourt, however, remains a concern.
Markelle Fultz’s redemption narrative was going swimmingly prior to his knee injury. Without a jump shot to speak of, his ability to regain his burst will go a long way to dictating how his career progresses from here.
Jalen Suggs, selected fifth overall last season, had a rookie campaign to forget. Horrid shooting, tentative playmaking and spotty defense permeated his game before injury interrupted his season.
Cole Anthony is a baller but if he’s starting in your backcourt then you’re not competing for anything of note.
Henderson could be a wonderful fit here, though if the Magic were to win the number one pick again (they’ve done it before) then they’ll have one hell of a tough decision to make.
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