WARRIORS, KINGS MAKE THEIR PICKS
The Warriors took James Wiseman with the No. 2 pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft, addressing the team’s stated need to get bigger and more athletic.
Though Wiseman, 19, played just three games at Memphis before a legal battle over his NCAA eligibility resulted in him leaving the program, he impressed the Warriors during an in-person workout with his ability to score at the rim and, with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, his upside on defense.
Wiseman, a 7-foot-1, 240 pound center from Nashville, Tennessee, played a total of 69 minutes at the University of Memphis, which lost the nation’s top recruit because its coach, Penny Hardaway, provided financial assistance to Wiseman’s family when the player was in high school. Rather than accept a 12-game suspension and financial penalty, Wiseman withdrew from the program.
The games he played provided
a glimpse into what he could be — a rim protector on defense and lob threat on offense. He averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.
But without much film, Golden State couldn’t put together a complete picture. That changed when owner Joe Lacob, general manager Bob Myers and coach Steve Kerr visited Wiseman in October for an in-person workout in Miami. Blown away with his size, speed and strength, Wiseman rose to the top of their draft board.
Prior to the draft, Wiseman worked out only with Golden State and Charlotte, viewing both as favorable landing spots. Minnesota, which owned the No. 1 pick, already has Karl-Anthony Towns at center.
Wiseman seeks to emulate former NBA champion big men Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh, but he’s yet to display the polish of his basketball idols. Though he’s shown a willingness to shoot 3-pointers and space the floor like Bosh, and has flashed the ability to guard effectively on the perimeter like Garnett, most analysts agree that his immediate role will be much more limited.
In Golden State, Wiseman can thrive as a rim-runner, finishing lobs at the basket and rebounding misses from his AllStar teammates Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. He’ll also provide an immediate dose of rim protection while coaches work with him on becoming a more well
rounded defender.
With reliable centers Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney already on the roster, the Warriors can afford to bring Wiseman along slowly and take advantage of Curry’s championship window.
Beyond that, Wiseman has the potential to become a cornerstone for the Warriors.
Kings are ‘winners of the night’ with Haliburton
The Kings couldn’t have dreamed Iowa State point guard Tyrese Haliburton would fall to them in the NBA Draft, but somehow he was still on the board when it was time to make their pick.
The Kings selected Haliburton
with the No. 12 pick in Wednesday’s draft, seizing the opportunity to pick a player many thought would be taken in the top five. The 6-foot-6, 175-pound point guard averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 assists and 5.9 rebounds last season at Iowa State, shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.9% from 3point range. He was an 82.2% free-throw shooter and an advanced-stats star, according to Tankathon.com.
After the Kings made their selection, ESPN analyst Bobby Marks said: “They are the winners of the night so far.”
Haliburton was seen celebrating with his family and donning a Kings cap after the pick was announced on ESPN.
The Kings made their selection hours after news broke that their sign-andtrade
agreement sending Bogdan Bogdanovic to the Milwaukee Bucks was in danger of falling apart before it could be finalized. A source told The Sacramento Bee that Bogdanovic never agreed to the deal.
If that deal can’t be salvaged, Bogdanovic will enter the market as an unrestricted free agent Friday, Justin James will be returned to Sacramento and the Bucks will take back Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson.
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards with the No. 1 pick. Memphis center James Wiseman went to the Golden State Warriors at No. 2 followed by Illawarra Hawks point guard LaMelo Ball to the Charlotte Hornets at No.
3.
The Chicago Bulls provided the first real surprise of the draft when they chose Florida State small forward Patrick Williams with the fourth pick. Auburn small forward Isaac Okoro went to the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 5.
After USC center Onyeka Okongwu went to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 6, the Detroit Pistons took gifted French combo guard Killian Hayes, a player some analysts believed could fall to the Kings. The New York Knicks chose Dayton power forward Obi Toppin at No. 8, Israeli small forward Deni Avdija went to the Washington Wizards at No. 9 and the Phoenix Suns took surprised by taking Maryland power forward Jalen Smith at No. 10.