The Blues mock draft for the World Cup
What if we made the Blues roster for this summer’s World Cup a soap opera worthy of an NBA mock draft? 30 names, the evolution of the list every month according to each other’s performances, injuries, disclosures, comments, a hierarchy over five positions? Let’s go !
The goal? Watch future lottery picks take shape, hear the 14 players who will make up the final roster, whittled down to 12 names, before the contest begins. Our 30-name roster accepts six players for each of the five positions. Obviously, writing implies a certain subjectivity.
Joel Embiid? He should be number 1 on sheer talent and passport. He should still want to join the team this summer, which ultimately justifies his 9th place. Adrian Moerman? He announced that he will retire at the international level. Fabien Talker? We believed there would be a return in 2022, but ultimately no. Unlike Rodrigue Beaubois, who has been at the center of recent rumours, there is no indication that he could return. Thomas Heurtel or Louis Labeyrie? For now, their signing in Russia takes them out of the group, which explains their absence from our table. We let you discover all this.
Then comes the question of duties. Nando De Colo 2 or 1. We decided in Tokyo 2021 compared to the last use in blue. And he tops the list because no other incumbent has clearly emerged as the leader. Batum, post 3 or 4. And Wembanyama? Position 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5?
Finally, one certainty. The French reservoir has never been so deep. We must congratulate the entire training sector, clubs, federations and coaches of France. The new international competition format with regular qualifying windows also allowed players to prove themselves on the field and familiarize themselves with Vincent Collet’s system. Now regularly, the latter arrive to shake up the supposed hierarchy of players based on their resumes and pedigrees. Making the selection process more interesting.
Tell us what you think!
Episode 1 – January 2023
Our fake project:
| Rank | Players | Job | Note |
| 1 | Rudy Gobert | 5 | The Blues’ MVP since 2019, the backbone of the defense, is the rock. |
| 2 | Evan Fournier | 2-3 | Blues’ attacking leader since TP’s retirement in 2016. Charisma. |
| 3 | Victor Vembanyama | 4-5 | The future, but not only. The talent is now irresistible. |
| 4 | Nando De Colo | 1-2 | Blues title leader in Tokyo in 2021. Versatile. Experienced. |
| 5 | Nikolay Batum | 3-4 | Guardian of the temple, provider of the collective, protection, altruism, relay. |
| 6 | Guerschon Yabusele | 4 | Admirable in Euro but in direct competition with Wemby. |
| 7 | Andrew Albisi | 1 | Windows captain. Very high level defender, great experience. |
| 8 | Terry Tarpey | 3-2 | Heroes of the windows, 2022 campaign reveal. Defense, energy. |
| 9 | Joel Embiid | 5 | A single talent. He has not yet announced his desire to play for Blue… |
| 10 | Elie Okobo | 2-1 | He measured the temperature in 2022. Are you really ready to contribute in 2023? |
| 11 | Vincent Poirier | 5 | A very high-end substitute. Effective in short bursts. |
| 12 | Timothee Luwavu-Cabarrot | 3-2 | Perfect in 2021, intermittent engagement in 2022. Cut off in 2023? |
| 13 | Autumn of Mustafa | 5 | Without Embiid, the third pivot role is his. Offensive joker. |
| 14 | Sylvain Francisco | 1 | Excellent in BCL, perfect in November 2022 window. 2023 surprise? |
| 15 | Killian Hayes | 1 | Big improvement on the drifting NBA team. He has to prove himself. |
| 16 | Isaiah Cordiner | 3-2 | Tarpey was favored for the Euros, but was very successful in 2022. |
| 17 | Amath M’Baye | 4 | A disappointing Wemby presence at EuroBasket stands in his way. |
| 18 | Frank Ntilikina | 1-2 | His NBA career is on hold. His card? His role is in 2019 and 2021. |
| 19 | Mouhammatou Jaiteh | 5 | Very profitable for a short time during windows. |
| 20 | Theo Maledon | 1-2 | Presented in Euro, he did not convince. In post 1, it seemed like it was too compressed. |
| 21 | Rodrigue Bobois | 2 | First Blue at 35? According to Alain Digbeu, he was sued by Boris Diaw. |
| 22 | Mathias Lessort | 5 | Small and dynamic. Two good matches on the windows. It is presented in 2019. |
| 23 | Jacob Ouattara | 2-3 | Small but powerful. Aim and shooting quality. Attitude is always at the top. |
| 24 | Nicholas Lang | 2-3 | Very high level expert shooter. It is valuable if there are windows. |
| 25 | William Howard | 3-4 | Cut to just before EuroBasket. Can he return to form? |
| 26 | Damien English | 4 | Perfect in November. Excellent transmission quality. Defense strength. |
| 27 | Amen to Noah | 4 | Interested in ASVEL. A skilled trio. More prominent than Petr Cornélie. |
| 28 | Johann Begarin | 2 | His November window was impressive. Feet of fire. 20 years. |
| 29 | Peter Cornelius | 4-5 | 12th man in Tokyo. He hasn’t played in Blue since November. |
| 30 | Axel Tupane | 3 | Referred defender. Very advanced physics. In front of Axel Bottle. |
By mail
Leaders:
| Rank | Players | Job | Note |
| 4 | Nando De Colo | 1-2 | Blues title leader in Tokyo in 2021. Versatile. Experienced. |
| 7 | Andrew Albisi | 1 | Windows captain. Very high level defender, great experience. |
| 14 | Sylvain Francisco | 1 | Excellent in BCL, perfect in November 2022 window. 2023 surprise? |
| 15 | Killian Hayes | 1 | Big improvement on the drifting NBA team. He has to prove himself. |
| 18 | Frank Ntilikina | 1-2 | His NBA career is on hold. His card? His role is in 2019 and 2021. |
| 20 | Theo Maledon | 1-2 | Presented in Euro, he did not convince. In post 1, it seemed like it was too compressed. |
Weak children:
| Rank | Players | Job | Note |
| 2 | Evan Fournier | 2-3 | Blues’ attacking leader since TP’s retirement in 2016. Charisma. |
| 10 | Elie Okobo | 2-1 | He measured the temperature in 2022. Are you really ready to contribute in 2023? |
| 21 | Rodrigue Bobois | 2 | First Blue at 35? According to Alain Digbeu, he was sued by Boris Diaw. |
| 23 | Jacob Ouattara | 2-3 | Small but strong. Aim and shooting quality. Attitude is always at the top. |
| 24 | Nicholas Lang | 2-3 | Very high level expert shooter. It is valuable if there are windows. |
| 28 | Johann Begarin | 2 | His November window was impressive. Feet of fire. 20 years. |
Wingers:
| Rank | Players | Job | Note |
| 5 | Nikolay Batum | 3-4 | Guardian of the temple, provider of the collective, protection, altruism, relay. |
| 8 | Terry Tarpey | 3-2 | Heroes of the windows, 2022 campaign reveal. Defense, energy. |
| 12 | Timothee Luwavu-Cabarrot | 3-2 | Perfect in 2021, intermittent engagement in 2022. Cut off in 2023? |
| 16 | Isaiah Cordiner | 3-2 | Tarpey was favored for the Euros, but was very successful in 2022. |
| 25 | William Howard | 3-4 | Cut to just before EuroBasket. Can he return to form? |
| 30 | Axel Tupane | 3 | Referred defender. Very advanced physics. In front of Axel Bottle. |
Strong wingers:
| Rank | Players | Job | Note |
| 3 | Victor Vembanyama | 4-5 | The future, but not only. The talent is now irresistible. |
| 6 | Guerschon Yabusele | 4 | Admirable in Euro but in direct competition with Wemby. |
| 17 | Amath M’Baye | 4 | A disappointing Wemby presence at EuroBasket stands in his way. |
| 26 | Damien English | 4 | Perfect in November. Excellent transmission quality. Defense strength. |
| 27 | Amen to Noah | 4 | Interested in ASVEL. A skilled trio. More prominent than Petr Cornélie. |
| 29 | Peter Cornelius | 4-5 | 12th man in Tokyo. He hasn’t played in Blue since November. |
Loops:
| Rank | Players | Job | Note |
| 1 | Rudy Gobert | 5 | The Blues’ MVP since 2019, the backbone of the defense, is the rock. |
| 9 | Joel Embiid | 5 | A single talent. He has not yet announced his desire to play for Blue… |
| 11 | Vincent Poirier | 5 | A very high-end substitute. Effective in short bursts. |
| 13 | Autumn of Mustafa | 5 | Without Embiid, the third pivot role is his. Offensive joker. |
| 19 | Mouhammatou Jaiteh | 5 | Very profitable for a short time during windows. |
| 22 | Mathias Lessort | 5 | Small and dynamic. Two good matches on the windows. It is presented in 2019. |
Photo: French team (FIBA)
