Could Wiseman be modern center for Warriors?
James Wiseman played just 69 minutes at the University of Memphis before a legal battle over his NCAA eligibility resulted in the 2020 NBA draft top prospect leaving the program.
Having s p ent t he better part of what should have been his freshman season preparing for his professiona l c areer in private workouts, the 7-foot-1 center is gaining momentum to become the No. 1 pick in this month’s draft.
Last month, the Warriors’ top executives saw Wiseman work out in Miami and came away impressed with his size, athleticism and aptitude, according to sources who were present. If Wiseman is on the board with the No. 2 pick, the Warriors will strongly consider making him the selection.
By the time Wiseman is drafted, it will have been more than a year since his last game at 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 12game suspension and financial penalty, Wiseman withdrew from the program. The three games he played provide a glimpse into what he could be; a rim protector on defense and lob threat on offense.
Wiseman’s blend of size and straight-line speed is perhaps only matched by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-anthony Towns (and even they measure a
couple of inches shorter than Wiseman). Combined with his willingness to handle the ball in the open floor and shoot from beyond the arc, the contours of the kind of modern big man that’s in high demand are evident.
Those games also highlighted some of his weaknesses. Wiseman hopes to emulate such players as Chris Bosh, Kevin Garnett and Antetokounmpo. To do that, he’ll need to improve his jump shot, passing and ability to switch on defense.
To be like Bosh, Wiseman will have to become a reliable mid-range and 3-point shooter. Scouts and draft analysts are split on Wiseman’s shooting potential. He made 8 of 16 3-pointers in AAU, but just 58.5% of his free throws — an indicator of shooting ability. Wiseman improved to 70% on his free throws at Memphis, and though he missed his only 3-point attempt of the season, he seemed comfortable taking the shot. He has a good- looking shooting stroke, and there’s reason to believe he will continue to develop as a shooter.
Early in his career, Antetokounmpo benefited from playing point guard, which forced him to grow as a passer. With his size and athleticism, Wiseman should be able to provide similar pressure on the defense, but he may not be able to take advantage of it the way Antetokounmpo has in becoming one of the dominant offensive forces in the league.
Wiseman recorded just one assist in three games at Memphis. That’s partly because his role was to finish at the rim, not make plays. However, those who scouted Wiseman in high school saw a lack of playmaking feel and awareness. Rather than pass out of the post or on the roll, Wiseman preferred to fade away for turnaround jumpers or force shots at the rim.
His single assist in college showed a flash of vision and touch, but it came in semi-transition against an unset defense that left a player wide open in the corner. Hardly a test of high-level playmaking.
To be like Garnett, Wiseman will need to become more consistent on defense, but he has the necessary tools. At Memphis, Hardaway asked Wiseman to safeguard the paint, hiding the center’s inability to switch onto guards on the perimeter. It wasn’t a problem until Memphis played Oregon (the only ranked opponent Wiseman faced) in the third game of the season. Oregon head coach Dana Altman targeted Wiseman in pick-and-rolls and coaxed him into early foul trouble. When defending on the perimeter, Wiseman can be flat-footed and slow to react to the action.
There’s reason to believe Wiseman can improve on that end. As Truehoop’s David Thorpe wrote: “Wiseman has a staggering ability to ‘sit down’ on defense. … it’s what you must do to meet the challenge of guarding in space in today’s NBA. This is how you move quickly with balance— slide, drop, change directions fluidly, and start or stop with aplomb.” Here, you can see the best version of Wiseman, sitting in his stance and using the baseline as extra defender. If he can do that more consistently, he has the potential to become an Anthony Davis-level defender.
Over the last several months, Wiseman has worked with trainers at DBC fitness in Miami — which includes Lebron James and Dwyane Wade on its star-studded client list — to improve his core strength, lateral quickness and burst, and with coaches on his handle and outside shooting.
Any team that drafts Wiseman, including the Warriors, must believe he is on the way to making improvements and excising bad habits. At worst, Wiseman could end up being more like Javale McGee than Garnett. That’s not a terrible outcome. Wiseman’s sheer size is a rim deterrent, and his enormous catch radius and hands should make him one of the most effective finishers in the league.
But higher expectations come with being a top pick. If Wiseman’s jump shot and consistency on defense improves, he could emerge as one of the NBA’S next generation of centers. For the Warriors, who could be looking for the next face of the franchise, that possibility may be enough.
Strengths
• Elite size at 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot- 6 wingspan. His size alone makes him a rim-protecting presence, but also has the fluidity to switch onto ball-handlers.
• Runs the floor well and soars over defenses when finishing at the rim. Great hands, catches everything.
• Active rebounder who tracks the ball on the offensive glass.
• Sets good screens and will primarily be used as a roller to the rim. Flashes enough shooting touch that he could develop into a pick- and- pop threat, though he does not have the track record of making 3- pointers or midrange shots.
Weaknesses
• Chases too many blocks and falls for too many pump fakes. Opponents will scout that quickly unless he commits to staying down.
• Footwork is a major work in progress. Needs to improve fundamentals and learn not to rely solely on his athleticism.
• Poor decision-maker when playing outside of a limited rim-running role. Forces shots instead of looking for teammates. Has not displayed good passing vision and routinely misses open cutters and shooters.
• Should be a better post- up threat with his size, but can get pushed off his spot and will often settle for turnaround jumpers.
NBA PLAYER COMPARISON >> Anthony Davis-lite ( bestcase scenario), Deandre Jordan, Hassan Whiteside
POTENTIAL FIT WITH GOLDEN STATE >> Wiseman would earn minutes at center right away, and could provide a lob threat, rim-protection and rebounding presence on opening night.