Victor Wembanyama Trade to Magic? Paolo Banchero, Several Assets to Spurs
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There is no way the San Antonio Spurs could trade away the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and coveted prospect Victor Wembanyama ... right?
While it's extremely unlikely, ESPN recently mocked up hypothetical trade scenarios that could entice the Spurs front office to at least answer a phone call.
For the Orlando Magic, this included trading reigning Rookie of the Year and last year's top selection Paolo Banchero, 2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs and the Nos. 6 & 11 draft slots this year for Wembanyama.
"In return for Wembenyama, the Magic would send the 2023 Rookie of the Year and 2022 No. 1 pick (Banchero) as well as one of the team's lottery selections from the 2021 draft (Suggs)," ESPN writes. "Throw in this year's two first-rounders and that's four top-11 selections over a three-year span for the French phenom. Banchero averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his rookie season."
While the glamour of drafting Wembanyama is intriguing for an up-and-coming team like the Magic, trading away several cornerstone pieces for a player that hasn't played an NBA game would likely never come to fruition.
"Banchero, 20, showed the ability to take over games at a young age last season," ESPN writes. "He would immediately form one of the league's better young duos along with 23-year-old Keldon Johnson, who averaged 22 points a season ago. Banchero could give San Antonio unique possibilities with larger lineups in Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell."
The NBA Draft is held on Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m. from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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