The Warriors aren’t exploring deals involving second-year center James Wiseman and they believe they already have a roster in place that can contend for a championship, according to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.
Wiseman, the second overall pick in the 2020 draft, hasn’t played this season while rehabbing from meniscus surgery. He likely won’t return until January, but the organization is willing to wait as long as necessary. A source tells Kawakami that management views this as a development phase for Wiseman, who is seen as a future star, and that any contribution he makes this season will be considered “a bonus.”
Wiseman was Golden State’s starting center on opening night last season, but injuries and inconsistent play limited him to 39 games. His combination of size and skill makes him a tantalizing prospect despite the rookie-year frustrations. He’s still just 20 years old and the Warriors hope he will develop into an eventual franchise leader who can help extend the careers of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
The team also believes Wiseman has benefited from watching games and learning from his veteran teammates while he has been sidelined. He has built a rapport with Thompson while they’ve done rehab work together and he has gained a better understanding of the role the coaches want him to fill, which is similar to what Deandre Ayton does in Phoenix.
“I watch (Kevon Looney) and how he’s able to see the patterns on defense,” Wiseman said. “And also on offense, how he’s able to score. I just visualize myself out there, where I’m going to be out on the floor so I can make those opportunities happen for me as well.”
While there may be tempting names on the trade market, such as Myles Turner, whom the Pacers are reportedly making available, the Warriors believe their best lineup is already set, Kawakami adds. They have a long-time pattern of closing games with Green in the middle, so they don’t feel a need to upgrade at center.
Finances are also a concern, Kawakami writes. Golden State is already facing a record-setting $180MM luxury tax bill this season, pushing its total payroll cost above $300MM. With Curry signed through 2025/26, Thompson and Green under contract through 2023/24 and Andrew Wiggins signed through next season, the Warriors are looking at several years of high luxury tax payments.
That’s why there’s more value in keeping Wiseman, who will make $9.6MM next year on his rookie contract with a $12.1MM team option in 2023/24, rather than gambling on Turner, who has a $17.5MM salary this season and next and will be looking for big money as a free agent in the summer of 2023.
With Curry playing MVP level and Klay coming back, along with how well the entire team is playing it’s a bad idea not going for a win now strategy. Even without Thompson GS are a good 5 away from a deep run. I’d go for Christian Wood. Team friendly salary and can score in bunches. Rockets are looking to tank so a deal around an injured Wiseman for Wood isn’t a bad call. And they wouldn’t have to lose Wiggins or much else to get him. Win for both teams.
You say this and then call it a terrible trade when Wiseman is healthy and productive.
“isn’t a bad call”. What did you read Codeeg?
The whole point is moot. Even if he is healthy and productive he wont be closing games. Green is the closing 5 and always has been when unlocking the best lineups. The real addition they would look for is a clear upgrade over the Iggy/Poole/GPII flex spot. Maybe eventually Wiseman closes games a couple years down the road, but if he is doing it now its because he can play a switchable stretch 4 role like KD while Dray plays the 5. If his 3 level scoring has taken a leap than he may close games. Otherwise the type of player they want is Giannis/KD/LBJ like and nobody like that will be available.
You’re sleeping on how good Wiseman is
I have never called it a terrible trade???? Feels like you’re mixed up sir. A healthy wiseman is a prospect but he hasn’t proven to be the level he could be. A healthy wiseman for a current Christian Wood is a fair trade. Woods value couldn’t be higher and he is a not so painful hit for GS. Injured or not. In win now mode it’s a good trade.
Wiseman doesn’t fit Curry’s time frame for more gold
We dont know if anything is a fair trade till he comes back. I also am sure that unless he is seriously delayed the team will want a good run to see what he looks like before considering anything. I would say maybe in the summer or next season if someone incredible comes available, or they decided that they want to go in another direction, maybe then.
Expect them to get a good long look at Wiseman, probably well beyond the TD, before they make any choice.
Totally agree with you.
Love how these so called dubs fans think wiseman is such a great player with no actual quantifiable proof.
He dies not fit the type of game they are playing now and during their big run.
Agree Wood would be much better now.
Lets see what he is now that he has had a while to work with the new development staff.
The Warriors were ninjas this offseason by overpaying to poach Jamah and the other coaches. It was the one place they could spend to improve this roster while not getting hit by the luxury tax, and even a grossly overpaid bench coach is pennies compared to salary/tax.
Just how good is he? You have no quantifiable proof. He’s been a negative plus minus on the team when he’s been on the floor. Do you not watch the way the dubs flow their offense and win with wings that switch? The dubs are not going to change the way they play for Wiseman.
Was it Wiseman? I mean Steph/Dray had a mediocre +/- at the point Wiseman went down as well. Was it Oubre? Was it everything? I mean he had flashes of something special. Several really good games where he put it all together.
Things in Wisemans favor:
He only barely played in college.
He was drafted on the one season where the draft fell just before the start of the season so he didnt have 5 months to work with team staff at team facilities to prepare for the year, and there was no summer league that season, or G league games in Santa Cruz where he could go get a game for development on a home off day to get work.
He missed camp with Covid, and like Dray may have been slow to get started conditioning wise because of it.
He sprained his wrist right when he had a good flow.
He got hurt when he had a good flow right to end the year.
Kerr acknowledged not running sets that were more useful for Wiseman succeeding, and generally pushing a little to fast with his development.
He is smart and receptive to coaching if anything one of his biggest problems is being to hard on himself and not moving on from a bad play.
Bigs always develop defense slower since it is the most difficult position defensively and he is super raw to start.
He got noticeably stronger so he should be firmer in the post vs other bigs.
His role will be reduced.
If he wasnt 6in inside the line on a bunch of 3s that counted as 2s his 3% and EFG% would be much better.
A whole bunch of the roster had to learn the hard system last year and all of them saw their play improve as they got more comfortable later in the season, and had Wiseman and Oubre not been hurt we still would have gone on a run, and probably had fresher legs for the playoffs all the way around.
Even with everything working against him last season he still put up 12/6 as a 19 year old.
All I read are excuses.
ya definitely makes sense to move Wiseman even if he has a crazy high ceiling .
dude has just not played enough basketball at this level to justify relying on him for a large role
that said. can always be option C
trade for a javale Mcgee type to help out for a year
Basically, for the amount of money they’re paying Wiseman, the Warriors are saying they can’t get a player with equal upside without having to overpay either in money, players, or picks, so they might as well stay the course with their guy.
In order for Wiseman to truly pay dividends he’s going to have to stay healthy after he comes back. If he can, then Wiseman could be one of their next building blocks as their big3 transitions into the latter parts of their careers.
Can’t say I blame them, especially with all the tantalizing talent that Wiseman has; however, him sitting on the bench for the majority of his first two years really isn’t doing them a heck of alot of good.
It’s definitely going to be really interesting how Kerr is able to mix and match Steph, Klay, and Draymond alongside Kuminga, Moody, and especially Wiseman once everyone is healthy..
Its really hard to find a trade where the value of player and money line up since they have no contracts between 9.5M and Dray, and the only non mins are the young players you wont throw in as salary match filler.
I genuinely don’t understand why the media always insinuates a Wiseman trade..it’s blatantly obvious that they’re committed to him..I guess the media is bored and looking for new material as the Dubs kicking a$$ is starting to be old news, lol..
Basketball media is way worse about reporting on or speculating over fake trades than any other. Players that are in no way available get “shopped” by the writers all the time. There are a ton of authors that dont even understand the cap and matching rules, so I guess we shouldnt be shocked they just make up trades for clicks.
It’s sort of expected a team in the mix for a championship and whose best players are all aging will go for it. That would mean trading the young assets for established pieces. It’s sensible logic.
But the Warriors seem to be going for a balancing act between competing and building for the future. Remains to be seen whether the strategy ultimately pays off. It may or it may not.
This team is pretty set. When Thompson comes off injury and gets acclimated that’ll shift Poole to the 6th man role. They’ll have depth and stars.
PG Curry
SG Thompson
SF Wiggins
PF Green
C Looney
Poole as 6th man with Lee, Porter and Iggy as rotational piece’s. That’s 9 deep with Wiseman as a matchup big and perhaps eventual starter. It’s still kinda early but there’s only 5 teams as of right now with a shot at a title those being Warriors, Suns, Jazz, Nets and Bucks. Is a trade going to put them over the top or is it going to mess up their chemistry?
add Bjelica and GPII. Eleven deep. Both have been excellent defenders.
The rotation will shorten in the playoffs on any given night, but I expect certain players will play for one series then sit another. It will be more swiss army roster, but with less min spread to the non-stars, and who gets them more matchup and game state dependent.
Twelve with Toscano-Anderson, actually.
Jeez, forgot him
add Bjelica and GPII. Eleven deep. Both have been excellent defenders.And chemistry is essential to maintain.
Got the regular season for depth but I think they will be rotated out for Iggy come postseason.
I feel they definitely are saving Iggys knee for that
Im pretty confidant GPII sees min in almost every playoff game, but they could be like 4 crucial defensive min or something.
Warriors are simply amazing. They are contending while also building for future. And they are paying unbelievable amt of luxury tax. Jacobs has been loyal to his players and to the fans. Myers is the executive of the year and Jacobs is the best owner ever.
Lacob?
Two lottery picks in a stacked draft with loads of potential averaging 6 and 7 mins. That’s not development. They’re amazing young players that are being left on the bench.
They should have shipped the picks and took a player they want to play. Those two are wasted in GS
Crazy to trade Wiseman. Definitely going to be next great Center. All The Warriors need from him. Is play solid big man D. Reb and play smart. Don’t try and do too much. At 28-32 mins. He changes this team for better easy. He will get his points. At those mins, can still put up 12-10 easy. He can develop in a winning environment. And learn from the HOFers to carry on this team.
Would not trade Wiseman …. Noooooooo
Anyone who watches NBA basketball and has a shred of competence knew this was the case. Dubs have looked amazing all year, up and down the lineup. With Klay returning there’s no reason to assume anything other than this team is going to be SCARY heading into the playoffs. If Wiseman is half as good as he was supposed to be, Golden State gets more value out of the money than they would bringing in Turner.
Dray will probably gonna be a foul trouble target comes PO, Wiseman as a 10mn max rotation guy will have 5 fools to give …