Spurs might land Wembanyama the perfect frontcourt partner at No. 14

This potential duo could wreck havoc on the league
ByNathan Rogers|
Trefl Sopot v Ratiopharm - Euro Cup  Group A
Trefl Sopot v Ratiopharm - Euro Cup Group A | Mateusz Slodkowski/GettyImages

What if I told you there is another French athletic freak the Spurs can get a hold of?

Introducing Noa Essengue, a forward for Ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga. This rising 18-year-old has potential through the roof and could be headed to the Spurs this offseason via San Antonio's 14th overall pick. Hailing from France and having an otherworldly build, a connection with Victor Wembanyama is written in the stars.

France got another one

There is something in the water in France that keeps producing superb basketball athletes. Along with Wembanyama, last year's first overall pick, Zaccharie Rissacher, and the sixth overall pick, Tidjane Salaun, from last year's draft are just a few other prominent Frenchmen who have entered the league.

Next up is Noa Essengue.

Essengue is a jaw-dropping 6'10" forward with a slender build reminiscent of Kevin Durant. The blossoming youngster is still coming into his own, but with his traits, he has All-Star-level upside.

In Germany this season, Essengue averaged 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game on an excellent 51% field-goal percentage. Essengue is currently balling out for Ulm in a playoff run and has been a key piece of the bench, scoring 21 points in game one of the quarterfinals.

Essengue's game fits the Spurs perfectly

Most impressive in his game is how fluid he moves at his size. Essengue makes long strides down the court in transition and can adjust on a dime to cut towards the basket. He can create for himself with top-notch footwork and bully his opposing defender. He made defenders look silly by spinning and slithering right by them.

Essengue is a creative finisher at the rim with an incredible scoop layup and dunk package. He can be trusted off-cuts and switches to control his body and finish against contact. The paint is his strength, and he was amazingly efficient in the area.

When Essengue gets the ball with a full head of steam, it is hard to slow him down. Running straight ahead, he has great control and can almost always finish the play.

Stepping out, he has shown a solid mid-range pull-up game. Using his massive wingspan, he can elevate over defenders and put up an unblockable shot. While his shooting and shot creation remain a work in progress, he has shown flashes of what could be something to be feared. In particular, Essengue struggled from three, but with proper development, he could explode.

What makes Essengue so impressive on the court is his hustle and dedication. This makes him a terrific rebounder for his position, always creating a tussle for a catch. He has a high motor and will consistently fight for the ball. Essengue is not afraid of anything.

These traits also make him a savvy defender. Essengue can get in the face of his opponent and force turnovers at a high rate. With his activity and footwork, he will stay glued to the target and stick with the play.

However, it wasn't always pretty. The 18-year-old will need to build more steadiness if he wants to lock up in the NBA. His size and traits give him the ability to be a dominant 1-4 defender in the NBA, but he is still extremely raw as a defender.

The sky is the limit

Essengue's NBA fate lies in the hands of his development. At such a young age, he will not be perfect entering the NBA. His jump-shot and defensive consistency need a lot of work to compete with the best in the league. But with such a rare set of tools and physical traits, anything is possible.

If Mitch Johnson and Essengue work hard enough to get the most out of him, he can be the long-term option at power forward next to Wembanyama. With his uncanny ability to run in transition, he would thrive next to De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. In a strong playmaking group, he would get plenty of opportunities to finish plays and contribute to winning.

If the Spurs make the pick, Essengue and Wembanyama would be a rare frontcourt duo in sharing the same international ethnicity. Beyond that, the "twin towers"-esque duo could dominate the NBA with their size and potential to shoot.

Brian Wright, I hope you got your eyes on this kid.