Wembanyama, I'm concerned (Part 2)

[Perishable517]

I can't believe a second thread to this topic has been opened lol

And yet, here we are!

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[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Im not concerned in the slightest about Wemby himself. Its the rest of the team that people should be worried about and who the Spurs plan pairing with him for the future. They need a dynamic scoring guard to take the offensive load off Wemby whose both young but also a decent/good passer that can lob it to him for easy buckets. The rest of the team should fill itself out once they acquire that person, whoever it will be.

They are in a weird position now, because they are too good to get a top pick, but not good enough to compete, and they lack the young talent to make a significant trade for help.

For the season sure, but they have a treasure cb sat do draft picks to package in a trade and cap flexibility to nab that #2 star. They are probably second to only the Thunder for options

Which picks? Not doubting you, just genuinely don't know.

Usually you need some top end young talent to trade with picks to acquire the star type players though, and I just don't think the Spurs have anyone THAT valuable after Wemby.

[Castle Black]

Honestly Wemby elevating this Spurs team to a Play-In contender is the worst thing for us right now. Our roster is just in desperate need of more size and talent. That is evident any time you watch them play (we had the 1st Overall Pick in the draft just 18 months ago for a reason). We desperately need to be selecting in the top-5 again this Summer, not trying to compete for a Play-In spot where we would immediately get destroyed in a series with an actual Playoff-caliber team.

I would normally never have this attitude, because I do think Playoff experience, even if it’s just one series, can really help a young team grow. But this Spurs roster is bottom-6 in the league without Wemby on it. It is seriously devoid of any real difference-makers, at least the level needed to compete in this league, and another top-5 pick would be huge for us.

The one silver lining is that we do have some draft capital (our own + other teams that we’ve acquired via various trades) at our disposal to potentially make some deals in the not-so-distant future. That’s really what I’m banking on at this point.

[pipfan]

I really thought they should have taken Matas #8 last year (Bulls' fans very happy Spurs traded that pick). Sure, a 2031 pick is nice, but that's six years from now.

I would still consider Lauri in the summer. He and Wemby could be devastating together, and his price tag will be lower. Spurs wouldn't have to include Vassell, Castle, Sochan or Wemby-lots of picks and expiring deals.

[SweaterBae]

Am I gonna get ostracized if I say he shoots WAY too many threes?

No, it limits him severely, which is crazy.

[WestGOAT]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

Yes you can, Wemby does not need to be first option on offense at all. As long if he impacts enough on defence then he is doing more than his part. All-time defensive impact + 2nd option on offensive is still historic stuff.

Throughout the history of the NBA I can only think of 3-4 players that were defensive anchors / all-time great defenders while being first option that won the title:
- Peak Duncan
- Peak Hakeem
- Peak Kareem
- Peak Wilt is interesting, he finally won a title in '67 but he was taking way less shots than earlier in his career and Hal Greer was leading the team in FGA. In the playoffs he was even 4th in FGA on his team

And none of their teams were actually that great on offence, except Kareem and he had an all-time PG in Oscar to support him. Regardless, unless you can play make like Jokic, the day of force-feeding your center are long-gone if you want to have a good offense in the modern NBA.

Wemby is probably better off focusing on his strengths than trying to imitate KD. He could be a modern day Bill Russell with better offense, that is still GOAT-stuff.

[Ayt]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

Yes you can, Wemby does not need to be first option on offense at all. As long if he impacts enough on defence then he is doing more than his part. All-time defensive impact + 2nd option on offensive is still historic stuff.

Throughout the history of the NBA I can only think of 3-4 players that were defensive anchors / all-time great defenders while being first option that won the title:
- Peak Duncan
- Peak Hakeem
- Peak Kareem
- Peak Wilt is interesting, he finally won a title in '67 but he was taking way less shots than earlier in his career and Hal Greer was leading the team in FGA. In the playoffs he was even 4th in FGA on his team

And none of their teams were actually that great on offence, except Kareem and he had an all-time PG in Oscar to support him. Regardless, unless you can play make like Jokic, the day of force-feeding your center are long-gone if you want to have a good offense in the modern NBA.

Wemby is probably better off focusing on his strengths than trying to imitate KD. He could be a modern day Bill Russell with better offense, that is still GOAT-stuff.

Giannis.

[WestGOAT]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

Yes you can, Wemby does not need to be first option on offense at all. As long if he impacts enough on defence then he is doing more than his part. All-time defensive impact + 2nd option on offensive is still historic stuff.

Throughout the history of the NBA I can only think of 3-4 players that were defensive anchors / all-time great defenders while being first option that won the title:
- Peak Duncan
- Peak Hakeem
- Peak Kareem
- Peak Wilt is interesting, he finally won a title in '67 but he was taking way less shots than earlier in his career and Hal Greer was leading the team in FGA. In the playoffs he was even 4th in FGA on his team

And none of their teams were actually that great on offence, except Kareem and he had an all-time PG in Oscar to support him. Regardless, unless you can play make like Jokic, the day of force-feeding your center are long-gone if you want to have a good offense in the modern NBA.

Wemby is probably better off focusing on his strengths than trying to imitate KD. He could be a modern day Bill Russell with better offense, that is still GOAT-stuff.

Giannis.

Giannis has a good case, what I recall from the data (the same stats OP used) though you can argue Brook Lopez was equally, if not more important for defence, and Jrue Holiday was also big contributor.

In any case, I dont think it makes sense to have modern NBA offense revolver around a big-man, unless he can play make like Jokic.

[UglyBugBall]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

Giannis won one. Granted he had a perfectly built team around him and they all decided to play properly once they figured out they could manhandle their finals opponents.

Dude can put up 25 a game easily right now which is obviously ahead of where the other guy was.

Giannis plays to his strengths. If wemby develops a mid range, a post game or even a better screen and roll game I could see it happening, but as long as he keeps chucking like he's trae young I don't think he can be a number one offensive option on a title team. I don't need him posting up with his frame, but with his advantage he needs to get closer to the basket like Giannis does.

[UglyBugBall]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

How though? We’ve never seen a big man with the tools/skill set that Wemby has. When he gets stronger and stops shooting so many threes he will be unstoppable on the offensive end. Well he will be be unstoppable on both ends..

You're right If he does those things. Personally I'm skeptical he will. He seems dedicated to being an outside shooter. He's not bad at it, but he's not nearly good enough doing it to make this an effective play style as a number one title option. Imo anyway.

[bullsaficianado]

I watched a few Spurs games recently he looks really tired out there right now.

[UglyBugBall]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

Yes you can, Wemby does not need to be first option on offense at all. As long if he impacts enough on defence then he is doing more than his part. All-time defensive impact + 2nd option on offensive is still historic stuff.

Throughout the history of the NBA I can only think of 3-4 players that were defensive anchors / all-time great defenders while being first option that won the title:
- Peak Duncan
- Peak Hakeem
- Peak Kareem
- Peak Wilt is interesting, he finally won a title in '67 but he was taking way less shots than earlier in his career and Hal Greer was leading the team in FGA. In the playoffs he was even 4th in FGA on his team

And none of their teams were actually that great on offence, except Kareem and he had an all-time PG in Oscar to support him. Regardless, unless you can play make like Jokic, the day of force-feeding your center are long-gone if you want to have a good offense in the modern NBA.

Wemby is probably better off focusing on his strengths than trying to imitate KD. He could be a modern day Bill Russell with better offense, that is still GOAT-stuff.

I mean I agree with you, I definitely think you can win a title with wemby obviously, I just don't think you can do it if he's your go to scorer. That might change, it's really early, but I'm 'concerned' about the kind of playstyle he's chosen to pursue. If he's going to be a Mount Rushmore player I think he has to be the number one scoring option. Right now I could see him being one of the best 3 defender of all time and the second scoring option on a title team which would still put him at a top 10ish potential.

If he focused on his strengths, which is mobility combined with incredible height and touch then he could be the best scorer on a team. But it seems pretty clear to me that he wants to be a combination of Steph Curry and KD, but hell never quite have the shooting touch to pull it off. It also removes his ability to impact the offensive glass or create an inside out passing presence.


Like I said to another guy, I don't necessarily want him posting up, but he should be screen and rolling, post and passing or taking the one dribble mid range pull up way more. Yeah I said midrange, at his height and mobility I think it would be devastating.

[BlzMwt]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

How though? We’ve never seen a big man with the tools/skill set that Wemby has. When he gets stronger and stops shooting so many threes he will be unstoppable on the offensive end. Well he will be be unstoppable on both ends..

You're right If he does those things. Personally I'm skeptical he will. He seems dedicated to being an outside shooter. He's not bad at it, but he's not nearly good enough doing it to make this an effective play style as a number one title option. Imo anyway.

You seem pretty certain based on your posting that this dude who is halfway through his second season is already the player he will end up being.

Seems like you're jumping the gun a bit

[UglyBugBall]

How though? We’ve never seen a big man with the tools/skill set that Wemby has. When he gets stronger and stops shooting so many threes he will be unstoppable on the offensive end. Well he will be be unstoppable on both ends..

You're right If he does those things. Personally I'm skeptical he will. He seems dedicated to being an outside shooter. He's not bad at it, but he's not nearly good enough doing it to make this an effective play style as a number one title option. Imo anyway.

You seem pretty certain based on your posting that this dude who is halfway through his second season is already the player he will end up being.

Seems like you're jumping the gun a bit

There's a decent chance I am. But I can't think of a lot of superstars that completely changed their playstyle after having spent a few years developing it in a completely different direction. I think it's more likely that Wemby remains a high volume outside shooter than he develops into mid or inside presence. I don't mean a Jokic or Embiid, because I don't think he'll ever have the frame for that, but at least like a super-sized and skilled Bam or something like that.

[DCasey91]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

Giannis won one. Granted he had a perfectly built team around him and they all decided to play properly once they figured out they could manhandle their finals opponents.

Dude can put up 25 a game easily right now which is obviously ahead of where the other guy was.

Giannis plays to his strengths. If wemby develops a mid range, a post game or even a better screen and roll game I could see it happening, but as long as he keeps chucking like he's trae young I don't think he can be a number one offensive option on a title team. I don't need him posting up with his frame, but with his advantage he needs to get closer to the basket like Giannis does.

He isn't chucking though 35 on high volume (9+) and 85+ ft

Those are better than solid indicators for a second year player.

Heck if those numbers alone translate in the post season he'd be already a handful without anything extra added on.

Whatever he'll be he`ll be, could he play closer? Sure but logically at his height you wouldn't want a crash and bash style of play anyway

[KG Leonard]

Yes you can, Wemby does not need to be first option on offense at all. As long if he impacts enough on defence then he is doing more than his part. All-time defensive impact + 2nd option on offensive is still historic stuff.

Throughout the history of the NBA I can only think of 3-4 players that were defensive anchors / all-time great defenders while being first option that won the title:
- Peak Duncan
- Peak Hakeem
- Peak Kareem
- Peak Wilt is interesting, he finally won a title in '67 but he was taking way less shots than earlier in his career and Hal Greer was leading the team in FGA. In the playoffs he was even 4th in FGA on his team

And none of their teams were actually that great on offence, except Kareem and he had an all-time PG in Oscar to support him. Regardless, unless you can play make like Jokic, the day of force-feeding your center are long-gone if you want to have a good offense in the modern NBA.

Wemby is probably better off focusing on his strengths than trying to imitate KD. He could be a modern day Bill Russell with better offense, that is still GOAT-stuff.

Giannis.

Giannis has a good case, what I recall from the data (the same stats OP used) though you can argue Brook Lopez was equally, if not more important for defence, and Jrue Holiday was also big contributor.

In any case, I dont think it makes sense to have modern NBA offense revolver around a big-man, unless he can play make like Jokic.

Giannis is great help side defender, roamer and the block highlights doesn't mean he was the engine. Brook was the rock, their system was build on protecting the paint and letting their best defender own man to man D in Jrue Holiday. Under Bud they were a great team defence but was never built on Giannis first like he was their offensive gameplan. Every defensive advanced stats showed that. It is like saying SGA is Thunders best guard defender because he is nr.2 in steals and not all NBA defenders like Dort, Caruso.

[druggas]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

How though? We’ve never seen a big man with the tools/skill set that Wemby has. When he gets stronger and stops shooting so many threes he will be unstoppable on the offensive end. Well he will be be unstoppable on both ends..

Ralph Sampson says "Hi".

[JustBuzzin]

I don't think you can win a title with wemby as the number one option. He's like Pippen to me, an all time good second option. Well see, but I dont think he has the tools or skillset.

How though? We’ve never seen a big man with the tools/skill set that Wemby has. When he gets stronger and stops shooting so many threes he will be unstoppable on the offensive end. Well he will be be unstoppable on both ends..

Ralph Sampson says "Hi".

Show me Ralph Sampson taking one legged 3's or crossing a defender with his ball handling. Ralph was nothing like Wemby. Being tall doesn't make you Wemby.

You can't compare Wemby to anyone because we never seen it. It's why he's the Alien. It's levels to this and Ralph ain't like him.

Cmon druggas don't be that guy.

[druggas]

How though? We’ve never seen a big man with the tools/skill set that Wemby has. When he gets stronger and stops shooting so many threes he will be unstoppable on the offensive end. Well he will be be unstoppable on both ends..

Ralph Sampson says "Hi".

Show me Ralph Sampson taking one legged 3's or crossing a defender with his ball handling. Ralph was nothing like Wemby. Being tall doesn't make you Wemby.

You can't compare Wemby to anyone because we never seen it. It's why he's the Alien. It's levels to this and Ralph ain't like him.

Cmon druggas don't be that guy. :lol:

You have no idea what you're spewing. Educate yourself.

[JustBuzzin]

Ralph Sampson says "Hi".

Show me Ralph Sampson taking one legged 3's or crossing a defender with his ball handling. Ralph was nothing like Wemby. Being tall doesn't make you Wemby.

You can't compare Wemby to anyone because we never seen it. It's why he's the Alien. It's levels to this and Ralph ain't like him.

Cmon druggas don't be that guy.

You have no idea what you're spewing. Educate yourself.

Love Sampson, but he didn't have the handles like Wemby. Wemby consistently takes people off the dribble. His pull up game is the best ever for a guy that size.

They had similarities sure, but Wemby is much more of a total package. Sorry Druggas but Wemby has no true comparison he's a 1 of 1.