{"id":2105142,"date":"2026-08-21T15:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2105142"},"modified":"2026-08-21T15:00:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T12:00:39","slug":"the-bounce-victor-wembanyama-leads-our-list-of-nbas-top-big-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2105142","title":{"rendered":"The Bounce: Victor Wembanyama leads our list of NBA\u2019s top big men"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"Article_ContentContainer__jBNW3 article-content-container bodytext1\">\n<p><b data-stringify-type=\"bold\">The Bounce Newslette<\/b><strong>r<\/strong>\u00a0<span class=\"c-emoji c-emoji__medium c-emoji--inline\" data-qa=\"emoji\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class src=\"https:\/\/a.slack-edge.com\/production-standard-emoji-assets\/14.0\/apple-medium\/1f3c0@2x.png\" alt=\":basketball:\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-label=\"basketball emoji\" data-stringify-type=\"emoji\" data-stringify-emoji=\":basketball:\"><\/span>\u00a0| This is <em>The Athletic\u2019s<\/em> daily NBA newsletter.\u00a0<a class=\"c-link c-link--underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/newsletters\/the-bounce\/?source=pulsenewsletter&amp;campaign=9178780&amp;userId=10748855\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/newsletters\/the-bounce\/?source=pulsenewsletter&amp;campaign=9178780&amp;userId=10748855\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">Sign up here<\/a>\u00a0to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.<\/p>\n<p>Why did James Harden decline his $42 million player option before free agency? Because it landed him an extra $55 million in guaranteed money. He has agreed to <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/dce7d49b34fe4c46aa5e2b4e94ed802b\/d7d9c05b9f8a41c4a8c1600fc6087c2a\">a three-year, $97 million deal<\/a> with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 37 next week. This pushes his career earnings to $510 million. Not bad!<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container\">\n<div class=\"ad-wrapper article-treatment\">\n<div class=\"ad-slug-container\">\n<p class=\"ad-slug\">Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mid1\" data-position=\"mid1\" class=\"ad place-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>Position rankings<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Wemby leads The Bounce\u2019s top-40 big men<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Is there a better time to start ranking positions in the NBA than in the second half of August? There isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>We debuted the Bounce Rankings last year, and it was a resounding success. Nobody pushed back on the rankings even a little bit. Please, do not go look at the comments or replies. Let\u2019s live in the present.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll break down the positional rankings over the next five editions of The Bounce, with lead guards, shooting guards, wings, forwards and today\u2019s group, big men. How have things changed since last year? Are there any big leaps or falls? Do I still have that pro Canva account to make charts? All these questions will be answered.<\/p>\n<p>The rankings are created by the most sophisticated supercomputers in the world. They\u2019re definitely not me just using an Excel spreadsheet to organize names. We break each position into seven tiers, from the elite of the elite to just rounding out the top 40.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s rank the big men!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7529290 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2026\/08\/21103338\/26-27_Top40_BigMan_Rankings1.jpeg\" alt width=\"600\" height=\"450\"><\/p>\n<p>Is it possible Joki\u0107 will make me look foolish by putting Wembanyama above him? Absolutely. <strong>But Wemby is the best defender in the NBA, and he\u2019s one of the best offensive players.<\/strong> He gets the honor for now.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Towns deserves plenty of recognition for his championship run. His play in the postseason unlocked another level, and he defended the way he needed to.<\/li>\n<li>I\u2019m curious what Embiid will look like in this new role and dynamic in Philly.<\/li>\n<li>Davis is probably too low, but he actually needs to play and re-establish himself.<\/li>\n<li>I\u2019m interested to see if Holmgren and \u015eeng\u00fcn can overcome their playoff struggles and come back with a vengeance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let\u2019s move to the next two tiers!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7529331 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2026\/08\/21104348\/26-27_Top40_BigMan_Rankings4.jpeg\" alt width=\"700\" height=\"524\"><\/p>\n<p>There were a couple of times I had Mobley into the top 10. Duren too. <strong>But their shortcomings in the postseason were too much to feel 100 percent about keeping them that high.<\/strong> Sabonis was probably a little overrated a year ago, as well.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I\u2019m giving Kessler the big benefit of the doubt here. It\u2019s possible I overrated him, but he is a tremendous rebounder and presence around the rim on both ends.<\/li>\n<li>Some people may bristle at Reid being this high, but he\u2019s going to light up opposing teams as a main big man in Charlotte.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let\u2019s go to the final two tiers as we round out the top 40!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7529294 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2026\/08\/21103357\/26-27_Top40_BigMan_Rankings3.jpeg\" alt width=\"600\" height=\"450\"><\/p>\n<p>If I had to bet on one big man from these two tiers making it look ridiculous that he didn\u2019t make the top 20, it would be Ware. <strong>I\u2019m a big fan of Ware and think he has the chance to really shine under Taylor Jenkins in Milwaukee. <\/strong>I have no idea what to make of Vu\u010devi\u0107 and his upcoming role back in Orlando. It\u2019s a crowded frontcourt, and maybe he shouldn\u2019t have made the top 40.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sarr has a chance to make a big leap too. He was a lot better in Year 2.<\/li>\n<li>Queen will probably need to establish himself as a full-time, small-ball big. But Missi is going to make that tough in New Orleans.<\/li>\n<li>The big man I will most likely regret not having in the top 40 is Andre Drummond. Joan Beringer will be a close second in that category.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Players dropped from the last year\u2019s top 40: <\/em><\/strong><em>Yang Hansen (25th), Brook Lopez (31st), Drummond (34th), Kevon Looney (39th).<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container\">\n<div class=\"ad-wrapper article-treatment\">\n<div class=\"ad-slug-container\">\n<p class=\"ad-slug\">Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mid2\" data-position=\"mid2\" class=\"ad place-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>The last 24<\/h3>\n<p>\u270f\ufe0f <strong>Trade grades! <\/strong>The Cavs are acquiring Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade. <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/584197a8fef246dcb67e6f11fbdf3e3f\/2538fb82765b486bbfad7b7f9c788603\"><strong>Will this lead to DeMar DeRozan in Denver<\/strong><\/a><strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"top-league-content-root\"><\/div>\n<p>    {&#8220;endpoint&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/api-prd-nyt.theathletic.com\/graphql&#8221;}<\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udcb0 Restricted stalemate. <\/strong>Jalen Duren and the Pistons still don\u2019t have an agreement. <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/584197a8fef246dcb67e6f11fbdf3e3f\/5464d38559064e2d8586287a569b821a\"><strong>What should we expect to happen<\/strong><\/a><strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udfc0 <strong>Dunks for the memories. <\/strong>Do you like the slam-dunk contest? Shaq and Vince Carter are starting a competitive dunk league, which will<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/584197a8fef246dcb67e6f11fbdf3e3f\/1d71ced9990e4f1c8f53041ef785f660\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hold its first championship next week<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Not Bussin\u2019<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Family drama at center of Lakers sale<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Lakers are a mess. And it has nothing to do with basketball. Mark Walter is abruptly selling the franchise for $12.5 billion purchasing the team for $10 billion in June 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Is he selling because <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/dce7d49b34fe4c46aa5e2b4e94ed802b\/a563a2476c6147a48c98305030f5b92a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">his businesses are under investigation<\/a> by the Securities and Exchange Commission? We\u2019re not sure yet! Meanwhile, that\u2019s not even the latest Lakers ownership drama. The remaining 17.8 percent of the franchise owned by the Buss family is now up for sale, unless you ask Jeanie Buss. She and her lawyer are fighting the sale.<\/p>\n<p>So what\u2019s going on with the Lakers ownership? It\u2019s time to talk to myself in a little Q&amp;A to figure it out.<\/p>\n<p id=\"article-pickem\">\n<p><strong>So the Lakers are being sold by Walter <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/dce7d49b34fe4c46aa5e2b4e94ed802b\/9a52191636e94da6917b9805adecc1c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">to the Bob Iger\/Joshua Kushner group<\/a>? <\/strong>They sure are. The NBA will have to vet\/approve them, but considering Iger worked with the league for so long when he ran Disney (which owns ESPN), I\u2019m guessing Adam Silver feels pretty comfortable with this sale. Also, the $12.5 billion valuation and increasing the Lakers\u2019 value by $2.5 billion in a little over a year is good for business. Especially when you\u2019re trying to convince bidding groups to spend between $7 billion and $10 billion for an expansion team in Seattle or Las Vegas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And the Buss family is selling as well? <\/strong>Possibly! Five Buss siblings announced that the Buss Family Trust would sell their remaining stake, saying \u201c\u2026 it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.\u201d <strong>That graceful exit isn\u2019t happening.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/dce7d49b34fe4c46aa5e2b4e94ed802b\/2b98d34da9d24091baf70fe7f211d7bb\">Jeanie Buss doesn\u2019t want to sell<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container\">\n<div class=\"ad-wrapper article-treatment\">\n<div class=\"ad-slug-container\">\n<p class=\"ad-slug\">Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mid3\" data-position=\"mid3\" class=\"ad place-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Do the Buss children need Jeanie to sign off on this? <\/strong>That\u2019s the legal question at hand. Jeanie and her lawyer <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/dce7d49b34fe4c46aa5e2b4e94ed802b\/bcb9f67682714c918dcec4e2d08703af\">claimed this is a \u201cbreach of trust.\u201d<\/a> The letter sent by Jeanie\u2019s lawyer to the other five siblings (Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse) also said they would be in contempt of court if this sale goes forward. That could just be a lawyerly threat, or it could be real. <strong>Jeanie and her lawyer believe a 2017 court order keeps them from overruling her.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Can\u2019t Jeanie just remain the governor without the ownership stake? <\/strong>She cannot. She must maintain at least 15 percent ownership to be the team governor under NBA rules. She will explore doing just that. However, we\u2019re looking at about $1.8 billion for 15 percent of this team at the $12.5 billion valuation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s the one Buss family drama that keeps coming up when talking about this? <\/strong>Oh, you know \u2026 just that time that apparently Jeanie told her half-brother Jesse that he \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/z\/c\/5037\/dce7d49b34fe4c46aa5e2b4e94ed802b\/af8dfab5c5c94f7da6d99f1c21c7355a\">should\u2019ve never been born<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>What do we think happens here? <\/strong>My guess is the legal battle does not prevent the Buss Family Trust from selling. And then Jeanie is out as governor. This won\u2019t affect the sale to Iger and Kushner.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Poster child<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Two iconic players \u2014 and images<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Every Friday, we\u2019re having you, The Bouncers, vote on nostalgic basketball posters from the \u201980s. We\u2019ve seen <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/1e2597ab33c0452a8ceac51820ba389c\/4e61fb4b332b42b5980cbdefbb12a7e0\">Chuck Person\u2019s \u201cThe Rifleman\u201d<\/a> beat out Dale Ellis\u2019 \u201cThe Silent Assassin\u201d in a vote. We had <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/1e2597ab33c0452a8ceac51820ba389c\/87a2b60ba786452bad75b57a4e8abf49\">Moses Malone edge out<\/a> Karl Malone. And this past week saw <a href=\"https:\/\/links.e1.nytimes.com\/a\/zc\/5037\/1e2597ab33c0452a8ceac51820ba389c\/4f5c8b3600c5403ebabbc6502d72799a\">George Gervin\u2019s \u201cIceman\u201d poster<\/a> run away with 82 percent of the vote over Darrell Griffith\u2019s \u201cDr. Dunkenstein.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today? We have the frame-by-frame poster of a Michael Jordan dunk versus Larry Bird sitting on a bird\u2019s nest on a backboard. This will be one of the toughest voting decisions you\u2019ve ever had to make.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7529297 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2026\/08\/21103450\/JordanBirdPosters-1.jpeg\" alt width=\"700\" height=\"713\"><\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s the better poster here? Sound off in the comments!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Bounce Newsletter\u00a0\u00a0| This is The Athletic\u2019s daily NBA newsletter.\u00a0Sign up here\u00a0to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox. Why did James Harden decline his $42 million player option before free agency? Because it landed him an extra $55 million in guaranteed money. He has agreed to a three-year, $97 million deal with the Cleveland [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,241],"class_list":["post-2105142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nytimes-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2105142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2105142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2105142\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2105142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2105142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2105142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}