What Victor Wembanayama would bring to the Indiana Pacers if they have the chance to draft him

Wembanyama is widely expected to be the number one overall pick in June's draft

Victor Wembanyama has been called a generational prospect by many. He officially entered his name into the NBA Draft process just under two weeks ago, and it seems a near certainty he will be the number one overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

NBA teams got a glimpse of Wembanyama early in October of 2022 when his team battled the G League Ignite and Scoot Henderson, and Wembanyama dominated. He scored 73 points in the two games vs the Ignite and showed off his immense potential.

"It's not normal to be that good at that size," Los Angeles Clippers forward Nic Batum said of Wenbanyama, per Bally Sports.

The French center, currently of Metropolitans 92 in the top league in France, is averaging 21.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season. He can do a little bit of everything, and he is already perhaps the best player in his league at just 19 years old.

What stands out about the big man on tape is his defense. He averages 3.1 blocks and 0.8 steals per game and can stop essentially any action. His pick and roll defense is extremely impressive, and opposing teams try to keep him out of the action as much as possible.

Wembanyama's size (seven-feet two-inches) and vertical leap allows him to contest essentially any shot, and his stride length helps him keep up with many matchups. As a prospect, his defense is advanced, and his rim protection is elite.

In the postseason, the big man put up 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes. His do-it-all style on defense should translate to the NBA fairly quickly.

On offense, the Metropolitans 92 center draws a ton of attention. On some of his pick-and-rolls, the defending team sends three or four defenders over to slow the action. They don't want Wembanyama to get an easy touch or space to make a play.

When he does get a chance, though, he's lethal.

lol pic.twitter.com/er6fFMhieH

— Tony East (@TonyREast) May 2, 2023

The 229-pound powerhouse has a nasty dropstep when he gets the ball one-on-one in the post. He can shoot the ball fine, don't be fooled by his 29.8% three-point percentage. His form is clean, though he does take tough jumpers. His strong free throw percentage (82.8%) indicates he will be a better shooter in the NBA.

The big man is averaging 24 points per 36 minutes while shooting 55.7% on two-point looks.

Wembanyama's length is key in everything that he does. He can shoot over anyone, create space with one simple large step, or grab an offensive rebound with his massive wingspan. He has a built-in advantage over any opponent.

His handle can be a little loose at times, though it's hard to separate that from his height. The ball has to travel far to reach the ground from his hands. But he can isolate on defenders and create space when he needs to.

Clear out iso: pic.twitter.com/3ITibrOuOU

— Tony East (@TonyREast) May 2, 2023

The amount of attention Wembanyama commands on both ends makes him a force. There is no easy way to stop him, and very specific planning is required to score on him. That's why he's such a highly-rated prospect. He is that much of a threat as a 19-year old playing in a league with several former NBA players.

There will be warranted questions about injuries and shooting, but even if the shot never comes around and he misses time occasionally, the French phenom is still worth the number one overall pick.

Truly, he would fit well with any team. If the Indiana Pacers jump up via the lottery and are lucky enough to select the big man, he would fit in well with them, too. Because he is so potent on both ends, he would help the team's lacking defense and increase their potency on offense.

The recognition Wembanyama requires would make him an excellent fit alongside Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton. They could be a lethal pick-and-roll combination, and others on Indiana would have a ton of space to operate around those two. On defense, the French big man could help get stops and allow the team to run in transition, which is where they are at their best.

Every team, Indiana included, would be lucky to get Victor Wembanyama. When the NBA Draft lottery is over on May 16, it will be clear what the talent youngsters next destination is.

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• What early NBA Mock Drafts say the Indiana Pacers could do with their early pick on draft night. CLICK HERE.
• Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle on the 2023 NBA Draft class: 'Looks good to me'. CLICK HERE.
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