The San Antonio Spurs have three star-caliber point guards on their roster, but the best version of Victor Wembanyama doesn't need to play with that kind of lineup.
The San Antonio Spurs are the envy of the NBA. Victor Wembanyama is the most tantalizing player the league has ever seen, and they have an embarrassment of riches behind him.
On most teams, De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle could easily be the best player. Instead, they're fighting for that second spot. Top to bottom, the Spurs are the best team in the NBA.
However, they're expected to make a move. Fox doesn't really fit the Spurs' long-term vision. While there is a world where all three guards start alongside Wembanyama, such a lineup would actually be limiting. The best version of Wemby, it seems, should play loose.
Spurs Encouraged to Use Wemby as a Hub
Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun are the two best passing big men in the NBA, and it isn't really close. Over his three seasons, Wembanyama has averaged 3.5 assists per game. He's shown flashes of being an elite facilitator, but he's never been the main playmaker for the Spurs.
That could change.
"When I first moved to San Antonio last year and was asked who Wembanyama should model his game after, I always said Jokic," wrote The Athletic's Jared Weiss. "He should be able to play with the ball over his head and pick offenses apart, then throw it up toward the rim when he doesn’t see a pass he likes. That is the idealized version of Wembanyama. But he just finished Year 3, so he is far from that player today."
Jokic entered the league with wildly different expectations than Wembanyama. It took him four years to blossom into a superstar, and three for him to reveal his true passing prowess.
Of course, Jokic's game is a bit limited. He's not the best defender or athlete, so he has to rely on tricky moves like his passes. Wembanyama can simply overpower most players, so his playmaking is always a second priority.
If Wembanyama unlocks a Jokic-lite passing game, though, then the Spurs might have to undergo a roster overhaul. Why have three other playmakers on the roster when Wemby can be one of the best in the NBA?
Of all the reasons to trade away Fox, "we have the best passing big man in the NBA and don't need another point guard" might be the one fans should be the most excited about.
