Pistons: Which team is the frontrunner in the Wembanyama sweepstakes?
If you are like me, then you hope the Detroit Pistons’ days of tanking are finally over, as it has been tough watching them win just 63 games in the last three seasons combined.
But there are going to be a whole lot of teams tanking next season, as there is a generational prospect in Victor Wembanyama that has front office executives salivating.
What’s not to like about a 7-foot-2 (at least) forward who can shoot the 3-ball, put the ball on the floor and penetrate, switch on the perimeter and block shots from pretty much any spot on the court?
When you watch these highlights, it’s easy to see why teams would be willing to lose for a season just for a small chance of landing a guy who many think is the next evolution of player in the NBA:
And he’s not the only one, the 2023 NBA Draft class looks really strong overall, especially at the top, so even though teams can only get a 14 percent chance at the number one pick, we are going to see some egregious tank jobs next season.
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There are also teams that are just young and aren’t ready to win even if their teams aren’t technically tanking, so we are going see at least five teams battle for top draft position next season.
Will the Detroit Pistons be one of them?
Detroit Pistons Who are the frontrunners in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes?
#4 (Tie): Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers
I am going to put these two teams together because I do think both will be bad next season, but I also think that both have enough veterans and talent to surprise some people and sniff the play-in even though the Eastern Conference is going to be tough.
Both teams will be led by young backcourt duos, as the Pistons are building around Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey and the Pacers around Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin.
Both teams also have good veteran role players with guys like Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.
If everything goes right and their young players progress as expected, these two teams could be decent enough next season to keep themselves out of the running for the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
But if either suffers any significant injuries, or decides to start selling off veteran players, then they could both be right back at the bottom with their fans praying for love from the Lottery Gods.