Bill Simmons Sets Insane Victor Wembanyama Trade Price Using 2026 NBA Draft Picks

The Ringer's Bill Simmons says he'd trade the top 5 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft to acquire the Spurs' star rookie.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:13am

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After watching Victor Wembanyama dominate for the San Antonio Spurs, Bill Simmons of The Ringer podcast said he would trade the top 5 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft to acquire the generational talent. Simmons believes Wembanyama is worth more than the top 4 picks in this year's draft combined, highlighting the 19-year-old's immense value to the Spurs franchise.

Why it matters

Wembanyama is widely considered the best NBA prospect since LeBron James and has already made an impact in his rookie season, putting him in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year and MVP. Simmons' hypothetical trade package shows just how coveted the young phenom is around the league, even for a team like the Spurs that landed the top overall pick in 2023.

The details

In Simmons' opinion, he would rather have Wembanyama than the top 2, 3, or even 4 picks in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft. To acquire the Spurs' star, Simmons said he would offer the top 5 picks in that draft, which would give San Antonio an entire starting lineup of potential rookie stars.

  • Wembanyama was selected 1st overall by the Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The 19-year-old French phenom was the 1st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and is considered one of the best prospects in decades.

Bill Simmons

The founder of The Ringer and host of the popular Bill Simmons Podcast, who discussed a hypothetical blockbuster trade for Wembanyama involving multiple 2026 NBA Draft picks.

San Antonio Spurs

The NBA franchise that drafted Wembanyama 1st overall in 2023 and currently employs the generational talent.

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What they’re saying

“Hypothetically, would you rather have Wemby or the top two picks in this draft? Wemby by far. Here's a better question: Wemby or the top three picks in this draft? I'd still take Wemby. Wemby or the top four picks in the draft. I get all of them. I can even have Caleb Wilson. I still would take Wemby.”

— Bill Simmons, Podcast Host

“Well the answer is the top five picks in this draft. Now you have my attention. Now I can have Peterson and Acuff. I can have Caleb Wilson, Dybantsa, and Boozer. I just have an entire starting five for Wemby. Now I'm thinking about it.”

— Bill Simmons, Podcast Host

What’s next

The Spurs are expected to continue building around Wembanyama as their franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future, as the 19-year-old phenom is widely considered one of the best NBA prospects in decades.

The takeaway

Wembanyama's immense value to the Spurs is on full display, with Bill Simmons willing to trade an entire starting lineup's worth of 2026 draft picks to acquire the generational talent. This highlights the Spurs' bright future with Wembanyama as their centerpiece.