Why Nikola Topić Is The Perfect Partner for Victor Wembanyama
How the Spurs Can Maximize Wembanyama's Potential with the Addition of a Talented Playmaker with One of Their Two Lottery Picks
Last spring, I wrote an article explaining why I believed Dereck Lively was the perfect NBA big despite only averaging 5 points per game his freshman season at Duke.
Fast forward to today, and he’s already a net positive for a Dallas Mavericks team that has made a surprising run to the NBA Finals, addressing their need for defense and rebounding that I mentioned almost exactly one year ago.
I strongly believed Lively was the best fit for the Mavs, just like I believe Nikola Topić is the perfect running mate for Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio. Despite the recent rash of injuries, including a partially torn ACL, Topić is the right man for the Spurs with one of their two lottery picks.
The Spurs hit the jackpot in last year's draft with Wembanyama, a high-usage big man on pace to become one of the best defenders basketball has ever seen. A versatile and gifted offensive center who is also an intimidating drop coverage defender is the most valuable player type in the NBA, according to the archetype role rankings derived from my Crafted NBA research.
This is mainly due to their ability to regulate the rim on both ends of the court, giving the Spurs a bright future with Wembanyama as their foundational piece.
The next step in the Spurs' rebuild is to acquire a primary ball handler and an off-ball wing archetype to enhance Wembanyama's generational talent. In addition to the versatile big who thrives as a drop coverage defender, it's important for a team with championship aspirations to have a lead guard with the perfect blend of scoring prowess and playmaking to anchor the offense.
In a draft relatively thin on floor generals, Serbian point guard Nikola Topić, projected as the 4th overall pick in the latest NBA Big Board Mock Draft, perfectly fits the description. Topić's experience as a high-usage ball handler and his efficiency in that capacity provide excellent scoring gravity to complement his ability to dish to the open man.
A Wembanyama-Topić pairing would allow the Spurs to have both their offensive and defensive anchors, creating one of the best pick-and-roll duos in the association in due time. Let's dive deeper into Topić's track record and experience as a primary ball handler to see how his game projects to enhance one of the most talented bigs in the NBA.
 | A guest post by
|