20 Ways Victor Wembanyama would change the Spurs forever

The NBA Draft Lottery is upon us, and many Spurs fans have their fingers crossed for the number one overall pick. Although there are numerous talented prospects, Victor Wenbanyama is the consensus best player in this class. Wemby is the most highly touted teenager since LeBron James, and he has the chance to alter the trajectory of a franchise.

Players with such a high profile come with enormous expectations, and Wembanyama does not shy away from the pressure. That should be good news to the fans of each lottery team that has an opportunity to draft him, as each organization has a lot of work to do. Selecting a player with unimaginable upside is a step in the right direction, no matter who makes the pick or their current roster construction.

Passing on Victor Wembanyama would be considered a fireable offense. He is the easiest draft-night decision a general manager with the number one overall pick could make, and the immediate impact he could make for a franchise is undeniable. And if the Spurs land the generational center, it could set them on a crash course for sustained success both on and off the court.

1: Offensive Improvement

Wembanyama's ability to stretch the floor, dribble in space, and finish at the rim will immediately improve the offense by adding an incredibly versatile weapon. The gravity his presence demands will also benefit other players on the court, giving them more room to operate.

2: Defensive Impact

This kid is 7-foot-4 with an eight-foot wingspan, and he has averaged 3.1 blocks per game this season. It is easy to see the defensive impact he will make as a rim protector, but he also has the ability to move his feet on the perimeter and secure rebounds. After leading the LNB in rebounding by a wide margin, there is no doubt Wemby understands the importance of finishing the defensive possession by corralling boards.

3: Confidence Builder

The moment you know you have "the guy" on your roster, everyone from the surrounding players to the coaching staff receives a boost of confidence. Having an elite talent is the difference between knowing you may still lose even if you try your best and feeling like you always have a chance to win, no matter the odds.

4: Primetime Games

In 2004, the year after the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted LeBron James, they were on television for every single one of their regular season games. Landing Wembanyama could take the Spurs from zero nationally televised games to frequent primetime matchups on ESPN and TNT.

5: H-E-B Commercials:

Since the departure of DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, the H-E-B commercials have seen a steep decline. Selecting Wembanyama should re-energize that relationship and bring fans more fun advertisements for San Antonio's favorite local grocery store chain.

6: Local Business

Spurs fans are passionate, but ticket sales will always decline when the franchise is underperforming. Bringing in the 7-foot-4 French sensation will galvanize the fanbase. The more active the fans are, the more money they will spend at surrounding businesses during games.

7: Better NBA

Large-market teams have always been the focus of the national media, but the NBA is always more intriguing when a small markets are competitive. The league had a ton of parity this season, and the Spurs would make things even spicier in the Western Conference if they selected Wembanyama.

8: Respect

Respect is earned and lost on the basketball court. When you're losing, you get no respect because professional sports are all about the highest level of competition. If you can't keep pace, you're nothing. When you get no national games, nobody sees or cares about you. It's time to change that.

9: Culture Reinforcing

After the dramatic departure of Kawhi Leonard and the ludicrous things former Spurs Stephen Jackson and Dejounte Murray said about the franchise, some people have questioned the stability of the culture in San Antonio. Winning can help answer some of those questions, and Wembanyama can help the Spurs become a well-oiled machine.

10: Coaching Prospects

There has been speculation about when Gregg Popovich will retire for several years, But whenever Coach Pop calls it quits, the Spurs should have no trouble finding a top tier coach who wants to lead a team boasting a generational talent like Victor Wembanyama.

11: Roster Maturation

The NBA is unique in that a single player can directly impact the outcome of a game. Those players can ensure their team is in the game as time wanes. Teams can only improve their performance in high-leverage situations by taking part in them, and Wembanyama should give the Spurs a chance to compete in crunch time.

12: Free Agent Destination

Boris Diaw once discussed his relationship with Tony Parker playing a part in joining the Spurs, but San Antonio has never been the most attractive free-agent destination. Sometimes you just need the right guys at the right time. Wemby has the potential to help lure free agents that want to play with a player as talented as he is.

13: Playoff Appearances

82 games may seem like a lot to some people, but one thing everyone has in common is the desire for more of their favorite team once the regular-season schedule is over. Challenging for a spot in the playoffs will be a welcome sight for Spurs fans that miss the sight of yearly postseason appearances.

14: Fanbase Growth

The Spurs fanbase already touches many parts of the world, and the addition of another overseas phenom will only add to their diverse population of fans. As the old adage goes, "The more the merrier."

15: Brian Wright Shine

General Manager Brian Wright has been the subject of much criticism from Spurs fans over his tenure. If the Silver and Black add Wembanyama, Wright can start to change the perception of the work he's done, especially if San Antonio returns to the winning ways of the past.

16: Draft Lottery Begone

While the prospect of winning the NBA Draft Lottery has been exciting, most fans prefer watching the Spurs make the playoffs and challenge for a title. The steps toward turning that into a reality can start tonight when the ping pong balls are jumbled and the results of the Wembanyama sweepstakes are revealed.

17: Trash Talk Reactivated

One of the most fun parts about sports is the back-and-forth with fans of other teams. When you're losing, you feel less inclined to throw your hat in the ring for trash talk. It would be nice to get back to feeling like you can puff your chest out and talk some smack as a Spurs fan.

18: Championship Stacking

The Spurs are fifth in NBA history with five championships. The Chicago Bulls are fourth on the list with six championships. Time and time again, we have seen you need elite talent on your roster to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Wembanyama could be the missing piece to help steer San Antonio in the right direction to tie and eventually leapfrog the Bulls on the all-time title list.

19: Division Supremacy

The Spurs have won the Southwest Division nine times since 2004, which is the most of all the teams they compete with on a near-nightly basis. A return to division dominance could be on the horizon if San Antonio gets their guy in Wembanyama.

20: Another Potential Hall of Famer

There is no doubt Victor Wembanyama possesses all the tools necessary to reach superstardom. With the proper career management, drive, and success, the Spurs could add another Hall of Famer to their historic franchise. Guys like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, David Robinson, and George Gervin, among others, aren't bad company.