James Wiseman didn’t have a lot of luck in the NBA. He got drafted in Dec. 2020 and missed most of his first preseason when he got COVID. He injured his wrist and missed a month, then tore his meniscus near the end of his rookie season, which led to his missing the entirety of his sophomore season. During his third season, the Warriors traded him to the Detroit Pistons, a team that had four other centers, three of them his age.
He looked like he’d get a fresh start with the Indiana Pacers, only to tear his Achilles five minutes into his first game of the season. Wiseman would watch his team go to the NBA Finals with him out injured for the second time in five NBA seasons. He came back and played four games for the Pacers last season, only to be waived in favor of Warriors Summer League sensation/three-time dunk champion Mac McClung.
Now, his agent Misko Raznatovic, has declared that Wiseman will be continuing his career in Europe.
The move closes another chapter in the Warriors’ infamous “two timelines” approach to building their roster around unexpected lottery picks in 2020 and 2021. That in itself was justifiable, even if the team’s selections could have been better.
Wiseman was an intriguing raw talent who barely played college basketball, who ended up in a situation where injuries, safety protocols, and the competitiveness of his own team all conspired to stunt his development. Jonathan Kuminga was traded midway through his fifth season to the Atlanta Hawks, who passed on his option for 2026-27. Moses Moody was a solid selection for a No. 14 pick who suffered a horrific knee injury last season.
There were more issues with the Warriors doubling down and adding three more rookies to the 2022-23 team, but in short, not trading the No. 28 pick that became Patrick Baldwin, Jr. was indefensible at the time and even more ridiculous in hindsight.
Where does Wiseman go? There’s a lot of teams in Europe, though the pronouncement from Wiseman’s agent almost feels like he’s posting a want ad for his client, who is still only 25 years old. Another high-potential, low-results Warriors draft pick, Anthony Randolph, went on to win a championship with Real Madrid alongside Luka Doncic, and a EuroBasket title with Doncic on the Slovenian national team.
Wiseman deserves a fresh start, free from expectations and bad memories of the NBA. He’s still seven feet tall! And if he does find a home across the pond, he should see if his new team also has a place for Jonathan Kuminga in a few years.
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