BROOKLYN, NY — With the 2023 NBA Draft now in the books and the San Antonio Spurs selecting French phenom Victor Wembanyama No.1 overall, now is the time for Summer League and free agency to start.
Below are my thoughts on who won the draft, who lost and whether or not Dame Time is over in PDX?
Spurs, Wembanyama Biggest Winners on Draft Night: Hard to not state the obvious, but the Spurs draft night luck is undefeated. A franchise that is able to land David Robinson in 1987 and Tim Duncan nearly a decade later in 1999, that would help fuel their five NBA championships and a dynasty afterwards, drafted arguably the most gifted prospect since LeBron James in 7’4 Victor Wembanyama.
Set to make his debut in the Summer League in Las Vegas, “Wemba” is set to give the league a taste of whats to come for years to come.
Dame Time over in Rip City? One of the biggest pre-draft storylines and now post-draft rumors is the fate of Portland Trail Blazers point guard, Damian Lilliard.
Lilliard, who is under contract with Portland thru 2025-26, with a player option for 2026-27, has said that he’s not interested in rebuilding. With the Blazers selecting Scoop Henderson with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, perhaps his mindset is beginning to change? Linked to Philadelphia, Miami and Brooklyn, Lilliard could single-handily alter the landscape of both the Eastern Conference and the NBA as a whole.
Very few players have the right to leave a franchise on their own terms, and “Dame Time” is one of them, and owes the Blazers no apologies, if he does decide to leave.