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1 or 2

LeBron is still going 1st

obviously 1st

Bron

Wemby

Melo

Bosh

Wade

In that order

first

Anti Europe Bias makes him drop outside top 5

2nd

I think the fact he is a much better shooter overall than Lebron was when he got drafted, you can’t pass up the size and skill. They’d both have the “he’s still growing” phase but Wemby can anchor a defense himself. I’d take that over Lebron. Although if your Cleveland, you probably can’t take a French guy over a homegrown kid from Akron haha

I mean in a 3 year window (2002,03, 04) there were seven non-Americans picked in the top 15 each year. I think given his hype he would have landed top 5-6 in 03. Can't imagine Chris Kaman would have outplayed Wemby in workouts, much less Darko and maybe not even Bosh.

Those of you who are not saying one are forgetting something very key:

You're in 2003, not 2023.

Context matters. Besides 2003 in which Euro Darko went 2 on potential alone, Bosh went 4, and Chris Kaman went 6...

2002: Yao 1, 3 bigs in the top 5 including Tskitishvili (Euro)

2001: 1-4 were all bigs, including Pau (Euro)

2000: 7 of the top 9 and 9/12 had PF or C in their position designation.

Oh, but maybe 2003 was the start of the transition to wings?

2004: Dwight-Emeka 1-2.

2005: Bogut 1.

2006: Bargnani 1. 4/5 top picks were PFs.

2007: Oden-Durant-Horford with 4 more bigs in the top 10 after them.

No.2 as he's putting up worse stats being a year older.

2nd after LeBron. Yes the hype with LeBron was that insane and he would've been considered more of a sure thing than wemby.

Between Kirk Hinrich and TJ Ford

At that time Cleveland is not passing up on Akron born Lebron James no matter what, so Wemby would go 2nd

if it is 2003, he maybe in around 2-5

if lebron comes to 2023, wemby will be 1st

3rd. Pistons must be really high on Darko if they drafted him ahead of Carmelo, Bosh and Wade. So I don't think Wemby would have changed their mind

2nd overall but I do think a few super incompetent GMs would take Wemby because his size and big man bias at the time

Would Wemby still have the same amount of hype and scouting that he had going into this year’s draft?

He might have dropped a fair bit due to the expectations around how strong centres are. He's pretty skinny.

Obviously, Lebron goes 1st still. It's quite likely Wemby goes 2nd to detroit instead of Darko, but you have to remember Darko was a much more built player as a rookie than Wemby is, so I wouldn't be shocked if he dropped further.

I wouldn't be shocked if he dropped to 5th or 6th due to his frame, and how Centre was played at the time.

It would largely depend on how different his role was in France, given he'd be playing in a different era there, too.

First. Anyone saying second is delusional. In 2003 he would have broke the league.

Cleveland still would have drafted LeBron #1 being hometownborn player. Probably 50/50 for all other teams.

Lebron had crazy hype and he was the hometown kid for Cleveland. But honestly back then even moreso than now, teams were always looking for the next great big man so I'd say it's 50/50 that Wemby could've been first.

2 or 4 both teams needed a big. Toronto drafted Bosh and Bargnani, bugs who don’t necessarily play “BIG”. So def in Toronto if not Detroit.

#3 at worse (after LBJ/Melo.)

#2 is prolly likely.

Assuming we're talking about if we could go back in time but Wemby had the same potential he had going into this past draft.)

Yeah, everyone remembers it being the Bron/Wade/Melo draft.

But, Milicic was literally the #2 overall pick. Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, TJ Ford, Michael Sweetney and Jarvis Hayes were all top-10 picks.

Bosh went #4 overall. No one confused his physique (ever) for current Giannis'.

He would go 2nd and there would still be people mad that he was picked over Carmelo Anthony

Impossible, he would only be a year old in 2003z

Bron would’ve went 1st in this years draft at 39 years old

6 or 7 maybe. Darko looked the part of a modern big. (At that time). Vic doesn’t.

2nd

For everyone saying #2. Imagine him going up against Ben Wallace in practice every day.

3rd

In all honesty, if we’re talking 2003 recruiting measures, Wemby might be a lottery to late first. Maybe even 2nd. Euro guys often went under looked in those days. And though Wemby is freakishly tall, he’s incredibly scrawny. He would absolutely struggle, at least early on, banging bodies with Shaq, Duncan, Vlade, Big Ben, I could go on forever, I love 2000s big men. Also if we’re staying true to 2003 form, Wemby isn’t playing outside of 14ft from the basket. His ability to space the floor would be lost on likely every coach. At best he would be a novelty shooter and throw up shot clock prayers. He would still be an incredible prospect for his paint presence on both ends and passing. But I could absolutely see him becoming a “late bloomer” in a different era.

Also LeBron is still the Akron native so I think Cleveland goes with him regardless

Wemby the woman beater is going 6th after Wade.

Not top 5. Different demands from bigs back then

2nd behind the greatest NBA prospect of all time Bron next question

2nd round