This article is part two of a two-part series on how lucking into Victor Wembanyama would impact the Portland Trail Blazers, now and in the future. See part one on how Wembanyama would change the 2023 offseason here.
Part one of this series broke down how landing French super prospect and likely No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama would alter the Blazers’ outlook in the short term. It also highlighted their offseason decisions, such as free agency and the 2023 NBA Draft.
Part two of this series is arguably more exciting, given Wembanyama’s potential and the Blazers’ young assets. It looks at how Wembanyama would fit with Portland in the future and how the organization could best construct an ideal roster around him after he’s developed for a few years.
Victor Wembanyama to play center?
Part one mentioned that Webanyama would slide in nicely at the power forward position for the upcoming 2023-24 season if the Blazers are fortunate enough to be in a position to select him.
The biggest reasons mentioned were Jerami Grant’s lack of rebounding (he would slide to the small forward position) and Webanyama’s 230-pound frame, which would be a liability at the center position.
However, down the road, Webanyama’s more natural position in the NBA is center, given that he is 7-foot-2 with an 8-foot wingspan. It might take a few years to reach the point where Webanyama has a strong enough frame; he’s still only 19 years old.
However, when he’s strong enough to play center, Wembanyama will be even more of a matchup nightmare on both sides of the ball.
The most significant aspect to get excited about is defense, where the Blazers have struggled. At the center position, Wembanyama is agile and long enough to switch onto smaller guards in pick-and-roll situations, or guards might avoid him entirely, opting to use the power forward as the screener forward instead.
That would significantly help the Blazers because players like Grant or Matisse Thybulle would switch on the guards rather than Jusuf Nurkic. In other words, Portland’s defense be much quicker, athletic, and versatile.
Typically, the center is the worst shooter, too, which means that Wembanyama could better roam around the paint as a help defender and rim protector. In addition, this will elevate his shot-blocking opportunities, where Wembanyama averaged 3.1 per game with Metropolitans 92.
Wembanyama can play center in certain matchups in his rookie season with his length and athleticism. But when he’s strong enough to play center consistently, he’s talented enough to be in contention for Defensive Player of the Year.
Blazers’ long-term roster outlook with Webanyama
If the Blazers land Webanyama, one player on the roster who will be the eventual odd man out is Nurkic.
As mentioned, Webanyama’s best position is center after he puts on the weight and strength. He would provide the Blazers with much-needed versatility and rim protection at the center position over Nurkic.
The Blazers could roll out a starting lineup of their five most talented players, regardless of positional fit:
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Anfernee Simons
SF: Shaedon Sharpe
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Victor Webanyama
However, even with Webanyama as the anchor in the middle, this lineup seems too tiny and lackluster defensively.
Shaedon Sharpe is expected to jump to a potential All-Star in the next few years and will likely need to be implemented into the starting lineup, one way or another.
If this starting lineup needs to be better defensively, the odd man out might be Anfernee Simons.
Simons would be great in a Jordan Poole-type role off the bench as a crafty sixth man that is an excellent scorer. In addition, Damian Lillard is now 32, so Simons could step up as his eventual replacement as the team’s starting point guard.
Given their similarities, the transition should be seamless regarding play styles.
Portland’s future starting lineup projection
Also mentioned in the first article is that Grant is better suited as a small forward due to his lack of rebounding.
So, a more well-balanced starting lineup may be:
PG: Damian Lillard/Anfernee Simons
SG: Shaedon Sharpe
SF: Jerami Grant
PF: ?
C: Victor Webanyama
The only thing that needs to be added to the equation is a versatile power forward. The Blazers have a couple of options to address that need, whether through the draft, free agency, or trade.
They would finally have solid depth with the development of younger players such as Sharpe, Simons, Cam Reddish, Thybulle, and Trendon Watford. Assuming Portland can retain them, this would be an intriguing group with a little of everything – shooting, playmaking, shot creation, rebounding, length, rim protection, and versatility.
In addition to their depth and two-way balance, Portland would finally have the potential star power to contend for a title. Damian Lillard made this year’s All-NBA Third Team. Webanyama is a future All-Star and even an MVP-caliber player.
Sharpe and Simons are both borderline future All-Stars. Grant, if Portland keeps him, is also a 20-point-per-game scorer that was good enough to make Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
Portland’s guards – Lillard, Sharpe, and Simons – are all locked into contracts until the 2025-26 season (accounting for Sharpe on his two-year team option). The Blazers would have a legitimate chance at competing for a title for three seasons with their current core plus Webanyama.
That’s enough time for Webanyama to develop into a superstar in the league.
The financial situation would get murky after that, which happens to all great teams – look at the Golden State Warriors.
Speaking of which, Stephen Curry had a 50-point game in the playoffs at age 35. Given Lillard’s career-best season at age 32, it’s likely that he’ll be able to be productive for five or so more seasons.
The long-term trio would likely be Webanyama, Sharpe, and Simons. But don’t dismiss Lillard’s role when discussing the future of the Blazers.
Lillard has a $63 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Would he be willing to renegotiate that, given that the contracts of Simons and Sharpe will expire at that point? It seems much more likely if Webanyama is on the roster and the team is competing for championships.
What would Wembanyama bring to the Blazers down the road?
Wembanyama will enter the league as an immediately elite defensive asset. He already has all the tools and physical traits to be a defensive force, whether blocking or contesting shots, securing rebounds, or switching out onto the perimeter.
Wembanyama can be Rudy Gobert on the defensive end as he puts on more size. Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Wembanyama is slightly taller than Gobert and more agile, making him better at switching and guarding quicker guards.
Before he was drafted, Gobert set the NBA Combine record with a 7-foot-8 wingspan (which was later broken). To reiterate, Wembanyama has an 8-foot wingspan.
He has all the traits to be the most valuable defensive player in the league. All that needs to be added is his frame and strength.
Another area Wembanyama will improve on that would make him even more difficult to guard is his 3-point shooting. Wembanyama only shot 28 percent from three this season with Metropolitans 92. However, he has good form and shot 84 percent from the free-throw line. So, there’s optimism that Wembanyama can improve from beyond the arc.
If he can become strong enough and a good enough shooter to become a two-way center that can stretch the floor, Wembanyama will make an even more significant impact on whatever team he ends up playing for.
If Wembanyama can shoot consistently from three, the Blazers could have a future starting lineup of all 3-point shooters, depending on their power forward spot.
Lillard, Simons, Sharpe, and Grant all shot at least 36 percent from three this season; this will be able to create ample space for Wembanyama, who has shown flashes of being capable of handling a go-to scorer role in the future – he’s challenging to guard with his length and ability to shoot over defenders, as well as his solid ball-handling and agility for his height.
Perhaps the Blazers could have their own version of a “death lineup” in Lillard, Simons, Sharpe, Grant, and Wembanyama. It’s worth experimenting with to see if Wembanyama could cover for everyone defensively.
Of course, that’s the intrigue of Wembanyama and what makes him the widely expected No. 1 overall pick. Wembanyama is a unicorn who can essentially play whatever position or style is asked of him. Because of his length, athleticism, and versatile skill set, teams could experiment with him in various ways, unlike any other player besides maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo.
If the Blazers are lucky enough to land the first overall pick tonight with their 10.5 percent chance, they would be in great shape for the future. Not only is Wembanyama a generational prospect, but he’s also a great fit. His strengths are precisely what this Blazers team has been missing.
As he continues to develop, Wembanyama could take the torch from Lillard as Portland’s franchise player and give Lillard his best shot at a ring.