The Raptors announced yesterday the acquisition of center James Wiseman and cash considerations from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for draft considerations.
In a corresponding move, Wiseman has been waived.
Tag: james wiseman
2022 NBA preseason begins with big game from Warriors center James Wiseman
The 2022-23 NBA preseason game slate has begun, starting off overseas, with the Warriors facing the Wizards in Japan. Via the Bay Area News Group:
James Wiseman had butterflies when he checked into Friday’s preseason opener in the first quarter and for good reason.
Not only did Wiseman have to wait 1 1/2 years to suit back up for the Warriors, but Friday night also was the first time he’s ever played an NBA game in front of a full arena.
And boy, did Wiseman give the crowd of more than 20,000 engaged fans a lot to cheer about.
Wiseman made his 7-foot presence known in the Warriors’ 96-87 win over the Washington Wizards, throwing down five dunks, including an alley-oop in the second quarter off an assist from Steph Curry.
Wiseman finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting. He also grabbed nine rebounds playing just under 24 minutes off the bench.
Warriors center James Wiseman remains out until 2022-23 NBA season
Per the Golden State Warriors, center James Wiseman, who has missed the first 73 games of the 2021-22 season after undergoing surgery on April 15, 2021 to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee, will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, including the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Wiseman appeared in three games with the Santa Cruz Warriors earlier this month, averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds, but recently experienced swelling in his right knee.
“We’ve maintained throughout his entire rehabilitation process that we’re going to be patient and look out for James’ best interests in what we anticipate to be a long and successful career,” said Warriors President of Basketball Operations / General Manager Bob Myers. “As a 20 year-old, his entire career is ahead of him. For us, as an organization, our focus is on James’ long-term health and we’re confident—and our doctors are confident—that this long-term approach will help James become the player we believe he will evolve into when he returns to the court.”
Warriors center James Wiseman not ready to return yet
Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman was set to make his return to action quite soon. Until he wasn’t. Via the San Jose Mercury News:
James Wiseman’s anticipated return to the Warriors has been stalled as he deals with knee swelling. How long he’ll be shut down is to be determined, but his prolonged absence could create issues for the Warriors’ center depth and have the team brass second-guessing the decision not to add another big.
This is not to say the Warriors are short on talent at the center position. One of Golden State’s strongest competitive advantages heading into the playoffs is Draymond Green’s versatility: He can play power forward or center, operating as the team’s defensive anchor and offensive engine in either position. Meanwhile, Kevon Looney has started every Warriors game this season, playing the role of steady defender and low-use offensive player.
But how much wear and tear can Green and Looney endure at the five?
Warriors center James Wiseman reportedly out for at least the next week
Warriors center James Wiseman will be out for at least one week. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
James Wiseman’s return to FedExForum will be delayed until next season after the Golden State Warriors rookie and former Memphis Tigers standout entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols Wednesday night.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Wiseman is out for at least seven days and remaining in Houston, making him unavailable for Friday and Saturday’s games in Memphis against the Grizzlies.
It would have been Wiseman’s first game in FedExForum since Nov. 8, 2019. He appeared in three games with Memphis before the school declared him ineligible and the NCAA suspended him for 12 games due to alleged violations during his recruitment.
The Warriors 21-20 this season, which is the 9th best record in the Western conference.
Wiseman this season is averaging 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game.
The team’s leading scorers this season are Stephen Curry at 29.0 ppg, Andre Wiggins at 17.2 ppg, Kelly Oubre Jr. at 15.2 ppg, and then Wiseman.
Stephen Curry already impressed with Warriors rookie James Wiseman
Stephen Curry is already very impressed with Warriors lottery pick James Wiseman. Here’s ESPN.com quoting Curry from a KGMZ-FM 95.7 radio interview:
“He’s just going to be a force, man,” Curry said of Wiseman. “To the point of all the things we need to learn as fast as possible, I can’t imagine for a 19-year-old to be able to ingest all that information, go out and play, but the things that he does well, you really can’t teach. His size, his athleticism, his presence to protect the paint, the speed to run up and down the floor, put pressure on the rim, we can use that right away. So you’re going to see a different player probably from Game 1 to Game 72, but early in the season he should be able to show what he’s about and provide a lot of value for us on the interior and play Warrior basketball. So I’m excited, man. You can see the look in his eyes. He’s chomping at the bit right now.”
The Warriors will be a team to watch this season, even if they’ll be without star shooting guard Klay Thompson for a second straight season.
Warriors select James Wiseman second overall in 2020 NBA draft
The Golden State Warriors have selected center James Wiseman with the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Wiseman, 19, averaged 19.7 points on 76.9% from the field (20-of-26 FG), 10.7 rebounds, 3.00 blocks and 23.0 minutes in three games (all starts) during his lone season at the University of Memphis. The 7-1 center was on the 2019-20 preseason watch lists for the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Lute Olson Award, NABC Player of the Year and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. Additionally, he was one of five players on the 2019-20 Associated Press Preseason All-America Team. As a senior at Memphis East High School, Wiseman was named the 2018-19 Gatorade National Player of the Year and Morgan Wootten Player of the Year and was ranked as the nation’s top recruit in 2019 by ESPN. Wiseman won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2017 FIBA U16 Americas Championship.
Wiseman joins Rick Barry (1965) as the only #2 overall draft picks in Warriors franchise history and represents the highest Warriors draft pick since Joe Smith was selected first overall in 1995. He is the team’s first Lottery pick since Harrison Barnes in 2012 (seventh overall) and first top five selection since Mike Dunleavy Jr. in 2002 (third overall).
Charlotte Hornets reportedly targeting James Wiseman in NBA Draft
The 2020 NBA draft is three weeks from Wednesday. Here’s the Charlotte Observer with a report on a player the Hornets hope to land:
The Hornets are highly interested in selecting former Memphis center James Wiseman in the Nov. 18 draft, two NBA sources with knowledge of the situation told The Observer.
Those sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to represent their teams publicly. Both sources work for teams with top-10 draft picks.
Those sources said they believe the Hornets — who hold the third overall pick — would consider trading up if it would secure Wiseman, who played just three college games at Memphis before opting out of his freshman season and turning pro.
One of those sources said he views Georgia guard Anthony Edwards as the Hornets’ backup plan if Wiseman isn’t available to Charlotte.
Wiseman is an intriguing player and a top prospect who could go as high as first overall.
Knicks reportedly open to trading down in 2020 NBA draft
The NBA draft is rarely a sure thing. And even less so when you’re a team in need of serious talent like the Knicks yet whose lottery pick is only the No. 8 selection. Here’s the New York Post on some possibilities:
According to two league sources, the Knicks are seriously mulling trading back in the Nov. 18 draft unless big man James Wiseman or point guard LaMelo Ball fall back to the eighth spot.
It’s become increasingly clear the Knicks’ top priority, Ball, is unlikely to slide. Wiseman, the athletic 7-foot-1 center from Memphis, has seen some mock-draft fluctuations.
However, most NBA draft sources believe it’s improbable Wiseman will make it to No. 8, leaving the Knicks in a quandary.
One source senses the Knicks have Ball and Wiseman as two players they absolutely “love,” and haven’t been as smitten yet with any other prospect in a consensus weak draft.
The Knicks finished this shortened season with a 21-45 record, which was 12th best in the Eastern conference.