Pistons center James Wiseman is going to make it a priority this offseason to improve his strength with a weightlifting regimen, per head coach Dwane Casey (Twitter link via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press).
First selected with the No. 2 pick out of Memphis in 2020, Wiseman failed to find his footing with the Warriors and was flipped to Detroit at the trade deadline in a four-team transaction. Since being sent to the rebuilding Pistons, the seven-footer has enjoyed a much more active role, averaging 13.4 PPG on 55.2% shooting, along with 8.7 RPG and 0.8 BPG across 26.0 MPG.
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- Bucks two-way rookie guard A.J. Green has an interesting history with Milwaukee as a city, as Lori Nickel of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. His father, Kyle Green, served as an assistant coach at Marquette during the 2003/04 NCAA season. Kyle Green left his post to become a head coach at Lewis University in Chicago. The Iowa Barnstormers, A.J. Green’s AAU team, meanwhile, played at a tournament in Milwaukee while he was in high school. “I had an idea of what the city was like,” A.J. said. “Obviously, good basketball, good players, and good people. I knew that Milwaukee liked me, but it was not a sure thing. I’m so glad it was here.”
- Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has faced some criticism for an underwhelming season, but he’s earning praise from several of his best players, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “He’s definitely underrated, underappreciated on the outside,’’ All-Star DeMar DeRozan said. ‘‘He’s easy-going, and as much as he’s locked into the game and pays attention to the small things, it’s incredible. His play-calling, his schemes — he puts a lot into the game that too many people don’t see.’’ At 36-40, the Bulls are currently the tenth seed in the East and are on the cusp of a play-in tournament berth.
- Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and sharpshooting center Myles Turner could be shut down for the rest of the season, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. “They’ll be listed however they’re listed game-to-game,” head coach Rick Carlisle said following a team practice today. “If you’re asking if it’s possible that they don’t play anymore, yeah, it’s possible. It’s not impossible that one of them would play, but we’re going game to game with it.” Turner has missed the team’s last three games with a sore left ankle and sore lower back, while Haliburton has been absent for the last two due to a right ankle sprain and sore left elbow. Indiana is currently 3.5 games behind the Bulls for the No. 10 seed in the East.
Wow, I don’t like that Wiseman quote.
Dumped by GSW for low bball IQ. Now he’s going to fix it by bulking up? Why, so he can have the same game as Duren?
I like that he is getting more pt, but if this guy is gonna be anything he needs better guidance.
The fit for what GS wanted was much too much for Wiseman to handle. Hard to have IQ with limited play. They couldn’t afford for him to learn with playing time as they have other aspirations, and the way their offense is ran. He’s a hard working player who needed an opportunity to make mistakes and keep playing time. His IQ will improve. Plus, look at the guys he gets to practice against. He’ll be fine and will have a bigger impact next year
Wiseman will be fine. He can shoot has a good stroke. He will stretch the floor for the Pistons. He may develop to a 4 too.
A 4 point shot? That doesn’t exist…ok?
Center – 5
Power Forward – 4
Small Forward – 3
Shooting Guard – 2
Point Guard – 1
So Wiseman can become a 4.
Wow. Did you READ my original comment?
How do you become a 4 by working on strength training? If the quote was “I plan to spend the off-season working on my 3 point shot/shooting,” that’d be awesome. But its not. What. He. Said.
Don’t you dare label positions at me. I dont recognize your handle. You must be new here…do you know who I am?
Sadly no I don’t know who you are.
Sorry if your feeling were hurt.
I apologize for that.
Whatever. Not very sincere but I accept it. Just don’t let it happen again, K?
Now resting players when you are a bottom feeder
Wiseman play did not fit the style and scheme of the Warriors.
They tried to develop him to their way
he’s too inexperIenced.
And he already added 20 pounds of muscle,
since he was drafted.
So Wiseman is a work in progress.
It took Giannis Antetokounmpo
four years drafted in 2013,
to become an all star in 2017.
Wiseman just finished 3 years.
His second year he sat the whole season
while rehabbing his repaired knee.