NBA: 5 middling teams that should consider tanking for Victor Wembanyama

Charlotte Hornets (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
Charlotte Hornets (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
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Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets trio (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

Charlotte Hornets

It seems like every time the Charlotte Hornets take a step forward as a franchise they can’t seem to not take two steps back. And that’s where the Hornets are heading into this season. Last year, they finished as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference at 43-39. It’d be a surprise if they were that good this season. In fact, the expectation is that they probably finish as a bottom-three team in the conference.

And if that is indeed the case, the Hornets would absolutely benefit from tanking for the generational talent that is Victor Wembanyama. The Hornets need to find a second star to place next to LaMelo Ball and, quite frankly, I’m not sure how they’re going to get one without hitting a home run in the NBA Draft.

If an injury or two hits the Hornets hard, they could end up tanking either way. But there’s no question that this is a team that should jump at the opportunity to land a generational talent in the 2023 NBA Draft.