As a rule of thumb (and in the interest of sanity) I usually avoid thinking too critically about the following year’s draft until the current one is over. This year, the circumstances are a bit different and a tad more pertinent to the present. At the combine earlier this month, the 2023 draft came up enough in conversation to validate the theory that a reasonable chunk of NBA teams are looking ahead with a bit more intent than usual.
(Cue Victor Wembanyama’s theme music.)
The pending arrival of 7-foot-3 French teenager Wembanyama—who is more than a year away from being drafted, but has gathered as much steam in the NBA community as any prospect since LeBron James—almost guarantees that the draft discourse for 2023 will differ starkly from what we’re currently wrestling with. Right now, there’s variance of opinion, but the discussion surrounds three or four top prospects with reasonable cases at No. 1 (I feel strongly about Jabari Smith being the guy, but can understand other arguments). Barring injury or any unexpected plot twists, Wembanyama will begin his draft cycle billed as a true consensus No. 1 prospect, and will presumably hold that spot until draft night.
