Rich Paul surprisingly questions Giannis’ fit next to Wembanyama

By now, many San Antonio Spurs fans have made up their mind about the prospect of the team trading for star Giannis Antetokoumpo. They are decidedly against making a blockbuster trade for Giannis given how much it would cost the up-and-coming Spurs.

Still, the thought of Giannis with Wembanyama is an intriguing one, to say the least, but one that appears unlikely at the moment. However, let's assume that the Spurs were to somehow land Giannis.

That would dramatically reshape the Spurs roster and how they play. So much so that high-profile agent Rich Paul, who's known for helping to create superteams, questions whether the two could actually thrive playing together.

While he didn't seem convinced, at least on paper those two would actually be a devastating one-two punch.

Giannis with Wembanyama would be a devastating one-two punch

Although we may never get to see those two team up, it's hard to imagine a scenario where they wouldn't dominate. Giannis is so unstoppable at getting to the basket that teams often try guarding him with an opposing center.

However, if he were paired with Wembanyama, that wouldn't be a possibility. In fact, it would force teams to play two big men as opposed to a center and an undersized four to keep from having two mismatches.

Giannis has plenty of experience playing alongside stretch fives but none like Wembanyama, who can shoot off the dribble. Teams tend to avoid having their centers guard him because he can cook them out on the perimeter; just ask Nikola Vucevic.

However, they wouldn't have a choice, and with no more wings guarding him, it would be easier for Wembanyama to attack the paint off-the-dribble. He could even go back to playing in the post or hanging out in the paint without worrying about being swarmed by double or triple teams.

Despite a great fit, Giannis and Wembanyama won't play together

The big potential downside of a Giannis and Wembanyama pairing is that it would take the ball out of De'Aaron Fox's hands.

He is far more effective playing with the ball, and while his shooting has been much improved this season, most of his threes have been off the dribble. Having him play off-ball while Giannis creates might be better offensively in terms of efficiency, but it would limit Fox's effectiveness.

The same could be said of Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle-- whichever one isn't traded. However, with the Spurs having two top-five players, it's hard to imagine a scenario where they wouldn't be dominant on both ends of the floor.

All told, the likelihood that we will see Giannis in a Spurs uniform seems increasingly unlikely. But, if he were to somehow become a Spur, make no mistake, he and Wembanyama would be dominant.