Washington Wizards: It’s time to join the Wembanyama sweepstakes

There is only one way out for the Washington Wizards to salvage their disappointing season: Embrace the tank, bottom out and maximize your odds in the lottery to draft one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history; Victor Wembanyama.

The 18-year-old French sensation has taken the basketball world by storm. His towering 7’4” frame with an 8-foot wingspan, incredible mobility, impressive ball handling, and shooting abilities make him a once-in-a-generation talent.

The Washington Wizards, stuck in mediocrity and without a superstar or a blue-chip young prospect, perhaps need Wembanyama more than any other team. For the second straight season, the Wizards rank the lowest in the league in terms of the percentage of seats sold per game. They also rank near the bottom of the league in nationally televised games this year with 5.

They desperately need to be relevant and watchable again. And there is no better way to do that than drafting a must-watch phenom like Wembanyama.

Victor Wembanyama is already a sensation. His French team Metropolitans 92’s games are being broadcasted on NBA.com and his every move on the basketball court goes viral on social media. His one-legged off-the-dribble three-pointers, his ability to get to the rim in an instant after gathering the ball behind the three-point line, and his out-of-nowhere blocks are dazzling.

Yet, his game is more than just impressive highlight reels. He averages 22.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.1 blocks in 31 minutes for the second-best team in the French top division. He shoots 61% from two-point range and gets to the free-throw line with ease. His outside shooting has not been great, shooting 28 percent in three-pointers. However, his confidence, difficult shots, solid stroke at the free throw line, and a smooth shooting motion all suggest that he should at least be an above-average three-point shooter soon.

When you are dealing with a talent of this caliber, the fit of your team should not be a big concern. A non-contending team like the Wizards needs to be in talent acquisition mode and worry about fit later.

And there is no reason to believe that Wembanyama would not fit on the Wizards. A two-way player with his skillset that can play inside and outside should be a seamless fit wherever he plays. He will probably start his career as a power-forward, then move to center, just like similar prototypes Kristaps Porzingis and Anthony Davis. With strength, the ability to guard in the post and not get pushed around will come. He can thrive next to another unicorn like Porzingis or next to a more traditional center.

The Washington Wizards need to start focusing on the bigger picture rather than continue chasing the 8-seed. Drafting a superstar is how you turn a franchise around, and there haven’t been too many prospects that are as close to being a sure-fire superstar as Victor Wembanyama.

The best way to maximize your chances at Wembanyama is by finishing with one of the three worst records in the league. This guarantees the highest odds of landing the number one pick at 14 percent. It would be a grave oversight for non-playoff teams not to try everything they can to land this guy. And this includes the Washington Wizards.