NBA draft: Ranking best player fits for Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs currently own four picks in this month’s NBA draft. The biggest question: How should they use those picks to find players who will best complement and amplify the star power of Victor Wembanyama?

Ahead of the two-day draft in Brooklyn, New York (June 26-27, on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+), the Spurs have the enviable task of constructing their franchise around Wembanyama’s talent, as most expect him to emerge as a MVP candidate in the not-too-distant future.

The Spurs struck gold in the 2023 draft lottery, winning the rights to select the young French prospect with the No. 1 pick. Wembanyama’s rookie season was everything San Antonio could have hoped for and more, as he was unanimously voted NBA Rookie of the Year and became the youngest player in league history to be named to the All-Defensive first team after leading the NBA in blocks by a wide margin, averaging 3.6 per game.

Finding the right players to surround him with, on both ends of the floor, will be important, as he is unlikely to be satisfied being part of a noncompetitive situation like San Antonio (22-60) was this season.

Who are the draft prospects the Spurs, who have the Nos. 4, 8, 35 and 48 picks, should consider with Wembanyama in mind? Let’s rank the best players in order of best fit.

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First round, No. 4 pick: Top three player options

1. Reed Sheppard, PG, Kentucky

Where the Spurs could get him: No. 4

Why Sheppard is such a great fit next to Wembanyama

The Spurs were a fraction of a percentage point from being ranked the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA at 34.7% last season.

Wembanyama’s greatest gift offensively is his shot creation. He ranked fifth in the NBA in usage (32.3%) last season, something that will likely grow as the Spurs better utilize his talent operating out of the low post, as a pick-and-roll ball handler and one-on-one isolation prowess from the mid or high post.

It will be important to surround Wembanyama with enough floor spacing to ensure entire defenses don’t collapse on his drives every time he puts the ball down. Playing heavy minutes alongside streaky shooters or 3-point shooters such as Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones, Zach Collins, Malaki Branham and Keldon Johnson wasn’t optimal in that regard last season, and with playoff defenses in mind, the Spurs will surely need to upgrade here.

Enter Sheppard, the best shooter in this draft class, who made a blistering 52% of his 3-pointers at Kentucky. Sheppard has an excellent feel for the game creating for others, and is a reliable decision-maker who makes the game easy for teammates with his patient, unselfish approach.

Sheppard wasn’t prolific operating out of pick-and-roll, at times playing with the brakes on at Kentucky more than one would hope, but he did show sparks of ability by making intelligent reads out of ball screens. This is an area he can continue to grow in alongside Wembanyama, who is one of the league’s best lob targets but also dangerous popping out beyond the 3-point line, operating out of short rolls and finishing with tremendous touch and creativity rolling to the rim skillfully with his 8-foot wingspan.

Sheppard’s team-first mentality — for example, happily coming off the bench all season at Kentucky even though he should have been starting — make him well suited for playing in the shadow of Wembanyama and all that comes along with that.

2. Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky

Where the Spurs could get him: No. 4 or No. 8

Why Dillingham is such a great fit next to Wembanyama

As prolific a shot-creator as Wembanyama was last season, he wasn’t a very efficient option, ranking among the league’s most turnover-prone players and sporting one of the lowest offensive ratings of any high-usage player in the NBA. That’s to be expected from a 19-year-old rookie thrust into a gigantic role on a fast-paced team that often had little semblance of coherent offense around him, but it’s certainly something the Spurs will want to optimize moving forward.

Surrounding Wembanyama with better shooters — Dillingham converted 44% of his 3-pointers this season — will be beneficial, but also adding a dynamic ball handler who excels in pick-and-roll, has speed to burn turning defense to offense in the open court, and can go get his own shot almost anytime he pleases could surely help. Dillingham is lightning in a bottle, ranking as one of the best scorers in this draft class already as a freshman. He’s also an underrated passer who has real creativity dishing off a live dribble — a skill he can continue to hone. His biggest concern — his size at 6-2, 164 pounds, with a 6-3 wingspan — can be mitigated to an extent by operating off Wembanyama, who is already the NBA’s premier rim-protector.

While some around the league don’t view Dillingham as a “Spursy” type of pick based on their drafting track record, he has been openly campaigning to be picked by San Antonio. There’d be no questions about how he’d view the team hierarchy if the Spurs pair him with Wembanyama. At the NBA draft combine in Chicago, Dillingham said, “He could be one of the best players ever. If I’m playing with Wemby, it’s obvious — I am coming in to give Wemby the ball.”

3. Zaccharie Risacher, SF, JL Bourg

Where the Spurs could get him: No. 4

Why Risacher is such a great fit next to Wembanyama

Some teams view the Spurs as a potential trade-up option for Risacher, whom they scouted extensively last season. Others view the No. 4 pick as his floor, an outcome he’d surely be thrilled with. Risacher played with Wembanyama in ASVEL in 2021-22 — a team official there described the two as being extremely close at the time, which is not a surprise considering their similar ages.

Risacher’s shooting would fill an obvious need, and he’d also help the Spurs defensively and with his passing — an area San Antonio struggled in last season.

Perhaps the Spurs already have a veteran point guard in mind whom they will target on draft night? They could create an attractive package consisting in part of the Toronto Raptors’ 2024 first-rounder (No. 8 pick), the Atlanta Hawks’ unprotected 2025 first, the Chicago Bulls’ 2025 first (top-10 protected) and other future picks owed to them from Charlotte, Atlanta, Boston and their own as needed, allowing them to pursue other positional needs (such as wing) with the No. 4 pick.

First round, No. 8 pick: Top three player options

1. Nikola Topic, PG, Red Star Belgrade

Where the Spurs could get him: No. 8

Why Topic is such a great fit next to Wembanyama

The Spurs often value positional size, feel for the game and character, and they have long been attracted to international players over the years. The idea of drafting a player with a torn ACL, like Topic, who will likely need to sit out all of next season, surely isn’t the most attractive option. But history says it’s prudent to think about picking the prospect a team feels will end up being the best player in five years, not just five months from now. Topic has excellent size for a point guard at 6-7 and perhaps the most advanced feel for the game in this draft, with his ability to navigate ball screens and pick apart opposing defenses. Improving his shooting will be key, but his career 87% free throw percentage portends good things to come.

2. Dalton Knecht, SG/SF, Tennessee

Where the Spurs could get him: No. 8

Why Knecht is such a great fit next to Wembanyama

Knecht is the most prolific scorer in this draft not named Zach Edey, averaging a robust 28 points per 40 minutes despite entire defenses trying to slow him down each game.

He converted 40% of his 3s but also did quite a bit of damage in the open court, attacking closeouts, in the pick-and-roll, in the post and coming off screens, making him a pretty complete offensive player. His defense — his biggest weakness — can likely be mitigated to an extent with Wembanyama behind him, allowing him to use his strong 212-pound frame and 6-9 wingspan to pressure the ball without fears of giving up blow-bys.

If the Spurs want to make a push at making the playoffs next season — drafting a 23-year-old consensus first-team All-American will likely get them closer to that goal than a teenage prospect who will need time and reps to get up to speed.

3. Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet Basket

Where the Spurs could get him: No. 8

Why Salaun is such a great fit next to Wembanyama

No prospect in this draft shares the combination of physical tools, high-level intensity, shot-making versatility and upside that Salaun brings. The 18-year-old plays hard, shows impressive confidence pulling up off the dribble from deep vantage points, and has considerable room to grow as the draft’s youngest player projected as a first-round pick. The fact that he’s French probably won’t hurt his cause as the Spurs look to build a locker room that Wembanyama enjoys being a part of, but Salaun will be a lottery pick regardless of whether the Spurs select him. The main question revolves around their timetable, which has been accelerated by Wembanyama’s incredible two-way ability. San Antonio’s urgency to be competitive might make drafting a more raw prospect such as Salaun less attractive.

Second round, No. 35 pick: Top three player options

1. Terrence Shannon Jr., SG/SF, Illinois

Shannon was one of the best scorers in college basketball last season, averaging 23 points per game. He was arrested in December 2023 for an alleged incident three months prior at a bar in Lawrence, Kansas, however, and faced first-degree felony rape and felony sexual aggravated battery charges. A jury on Thursday found him not guilty of both charges.

We’re still learning more about where teams view Shannon’s draft stock as the not guilty verdict means he could be selected in the first round. If the Spurs are comfortable with Shannon’s character, they’d be hard-pressed to find a more talented player in this range. He can make 3s in volume pulling up off the dribble and with his feet set.

2. Adem Bona, C, UCLA

Nonstop intensity was a trademark of Spurs basketball dating back to their championship seasons, but that has waned in recent years, something the front office would surely like to revive. No player in this draft plays harder than Bona, who brings an exceptional motor, toughness and explosiveness throwing his body around while being one of the best defensive playmakers in this class. Bona could develop into a good option to give Wembanyama a breather for 10 to 15 minutes per game, while also playing alongside him at times depending on matchups.

3. Juan Nunez, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm

Nunez is arguably the best pick-and-roll playmaker in this class. He’s an absolute magician who makes creative, decisive reads and picks apart defenses with spectacular vision and flair. He’ll have to improve his shooting to play heavy minutes alongside Wembanyama, but players with his size and playmaking aren’t easy to come by, making him someone a team will want to draft and develop long term.

Second round, No. 48 pick: Top three player options

1. Cam Spencer, SG, UConn

Spencer is one of the best shooters in this draft, hitting 44% of his 3s this season — many of which came running off screens or pulling up off the bounce. He is a smart, unselfish passer who can moonlight in a playmaking role and brings a tough, fiery demeanor that will be appreciated by teammates and coaches alike.

His age — he’s currently the oldest player projected to be drafted at 24 — and defensive/athletic limitations will likely relegate him to the second round, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see him carve out a NBA career considering his skill level, feel for the game and competitiveness.

2. Jaylen Wells, SG/SF, Washington State