11 Outside-the-box ideas for how the Spurs can use Victor Wembanyama

3: Have Wembanyama switch when defending the pick-and-roll

Anyone who has watched highlights of Wembanyama has likely seen his impressive ability to defend away from the basket. His uncanny lateral quickness, length, and size are rare for a big man, and he often makes it hard for ballhandlers to get by him and finish at the rim or shoot over him. That has resulted in him blocking a surprising amount of jumpers while defending away from the basket.

Based on that, the Spurs should experiment with having him switch when guarding out on the perimeter as opposed to dropping back. While keeping Wembanyama as close to the basket as possible obviously has its perks, so does having him shut down ballhandlers in defensive switches. Particularly if the Spurs use more nontraditional lineups that prioritize size.

Having him try and switch every defensive possession while he is on the floor isn't realistic, but it is something that is worth trying out for a few possessions at a time. It may even prove to be effective in late-game situations when the Spurs need to get a stop. Wembanyama's defensive versatility at least raises the possibility of it working, thus making switching something the team should explore next season.