San Antonio Spurs Win NBA Draft Lottery, Earning Right to Draft Victor Wembanyama

The San Antoni Spurs have won the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. The Spurs had a 14% chance of winning the lottery, along with the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets. Wembanyama is a 7-foot-3 center with a wingspan of almost 8 feet. He is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. He is also a skilled offensive player who can shoot from the perimeter and finish around the rim. The praise has been exorbitant for Wembanyama, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said Wembanyama might be the best prospect “in the history of team sports.”

Winners of the NBA Draft Lottery

San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are the biggest winners of the NBA Draft Lottery. They will now have the opportunity to add Wembanyama, who is considered by many to be the best prospect in the draft. I wrote this yesterday for LifeWalletSports regarding why the Spurs were the best fit for Wembanyama:

“Having a coach like Popovich who coached a young Tim Duncan and David Robinson and was able to win five titles with the Spurs, would be the best situation for Wembanyama from a developmental perspective. The Spurs are also known for playing an “international” brand of basketball as they are one of the teams that draft the most international players, something that would be a plus for Wembanyama as he eases into the NBA.”

Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama is the clear winner of the NBA Draft Lottery. He will now have the opportunity to play for a winning organization in San Antonio. This was Wembanyama’s reaction and comments when the Spurs landed the number one pick:

Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets landed the number two pick in the draft and will have a chance to land projected All- Star talents in Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson. Both these prospects give the Hornets a potential franchise player .

Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers landed a top three pick in the draft and will pick one of Henderson or Miller. The Blazers are shopping around the third pick in the draft in hopes of obtaining an All- Star caliber player to play alongside Damian Lillard. If the Blazers are able to obtain a star, there is a good chance Lillard stays in Portland long term.

Losers of the NBA Draft Lottery

Detroit Pistons
The Pistons had a 14 % chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, but they ended up with the No. 5 pick. Detroit had the worst record in the league and were hoping to at least land a top three pick. The fact that they will not be able to draft Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller should be a warning to teams that try to tank.

Houston Rockets
The Rockets had a 14 % chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, but they ended up with the No. 4 pick. They will not be able to draft one of the three projected surefire stars in the draft.

New Orleans Pelicans
All those draft picks for Anthony Davis and the Pelicans are still a lottery team and have the 14th pick in the draft. Meanwhile Anthony Davis has won a championship and is in the Western Conference Finals for the second time with the Lakers.