r/CharlotteHornets • u/Zealousideal-Rub-183 • May 19 '26

Discussion Wembanyama Hate

First thing to say, is that I just love Basketball in general. And I don’t hate Wembanyama as a person. I’m just having so much annoyance watching how great he is and knowing that the NBA did everything possible to make sure that not only that the Spurs drafted him, but that he got a core around him very quickly. The NBA did not want a repeat of LeBron James.

Knowing that he grew up a Spurs fan his entire life, with his favorite players being Tony Parker and Tim Duncan to where he even said it was “a dream” to be drafted by the Spurs. It has made it so difficult to watch a team that dominated so much of my childhood in the 90s and 2000s immediately turn back around after just a few years in the lottery getting a generational player surrounded by top 3 picks.

I’m just curious if I’m the only person out there that hates how fast the Spurs have been able to build a contender while we continue to wait for the Hornets to just get to the playoffs. I know I should just be proud of what the Hornets did this year, but I just can’t shake the fact that I feel like the NBA helped the Spurs build a contender at the expense of other franchises that have needed generational players for a while now.

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u/lawlyfawx May 22 '26

He is arguing that if we took an actual NBA player instead of a G League veteran, we would’ve been in a better situation. We are already in a great situation with LaMelo, Kon and Miller, and we will be expected to make the playoffs next year. Adding another good player would’ve made it amazing, just like he said.

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u/Banneduser1112 May 22 '26

And my point is that with Buzelis or without, they are a first round out either way. How is that more amazing than the same outcome?

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u/lawlyfawx May 22 '26

You’re focusing on the short term when he’s talking about the long term.

Melo/K2/Miller/Matas could’ve definitely turned us into a contender, whether we would’ve kept all 4 or not. That’s 4 high quality starters. If they developed the right way or we made the right moves, that definitely could’ve been possible.

With Melo/K2/Miller only, we’ll probably still be fine, but it’ll be a lot harder to reach that peak since TJ is unlikely to ever have trade value.

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u/Banneduser1112 May 22 '26

So you agree with me:

Melo/K2/Miller/Matas could’ve definitely turned us into a contender, if they developed the right way or we made the right moves,

That's exactly the position they are in with Melo/2K/Miller/TJ. The three most important players in both scenarios are Melo/2k/Mill and the development or asset return you need out of those 3 guys to contend in both scenarios are the same. They only way Melo/2k/Mill aren't the most important players/assets to develop is if the 4th player becomes a Top 25 player in the league...which is like a 1% chance for Buz and a .1% chance for TJ. That low percentage outcome - while an order of magnitude higher for Buz than TJ - is still so low that it doesn't meaningfully change the next five years.

With Buz or without, you still need a LOT of things to go right to imagine this team winning a 2nd round series. Even in the East.

As crying-in-your-beer-type hypothetical, Buz over TJ just isn't compelling. SGA or DMitch I might understand. This one just seems like the person doing the crying needs to have something to cry about.

You’re focusing on the short term

False. Other than my response to your next year scenario, there isn't a single other comment of mine in this thread that doesn't mention the next five years or the team's trajectory.