10:00 pm: Wiseman signed a two-year, minimum-salary contract with a partial guarantee and a second-year team option, according to Tony East of Locked on Pacers (Twitter link). It’s a similar structure to the deal the big man received from the team last offseason.
2:31 pm: The Pacers have brought back free agent center James Wiseman, the team confirmed in a press release. President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard had told reporters earlier in the day that a new deal with Wiseman was in the works.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Wiseman signed with the Pacers as a free agent a year ago after playing for Golden State and Detroit in his first four NBA seasons. The big man impressed Indiana in the preseason and appeared to have the edge for the backup center role behind Myles Turner, but tore his left Achilles in the club’s regular season opener.
Wiseman has dealt with several injuries in his young career, including missing the entire 2021/22 season following knee surgery. Over the course of five years, the 24-year-old has appeared in 148 total games (55 starts), averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per contest.
As Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets, Pritchard said on Monday that Wiseman will get an opportunity to compete in Indiana’s new Turner-less frontcourt alongside Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, and restricted free agent Isaiah Jackson, who is considered likely to re-sign.
It’s unclear whether or not Wiseman’s salary will be guaranteed or if he’s assured of a regular season roster spot — it’s possible he’ll be vying for a 15-man spot with Bradley, whose salary is non-guaranteed. Still, Pritchard spoke enthusiastically today about Wiseman.
“We saw a lot of potential in him in the preseason and going up until his injury,” Pritchard said, per Matthew Glenesk and Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. “Very long. Very athletic. Becoming a better shooter. I think he’s getting to that point where his injury is allowing him to get on the court and — not full, but do a lot. I think (assistant coach) Jim Boylen has done a great job with him and Isaiah quite frankly, in this shortened summer and they’ll continue to work. You don’t replace Myles but a combination of those players, we’re going to have to rely on.”
Watch Wiseman blossom.
Is this James burner?
Who is James Burner?
Really hope he goes well
Such a talent kid with loads of skill
This is a really solid looking good opportunity
He has had a lifetime scoring average of nine points. At this point in your career, you are who you are.
Won’t change life for them.
It could if he actually develops. He was considered as a top prospect for a reason. Not a bad flyer for a team who needs lotto tickets to remain a contender in the East. The loss of Turner (cheap owner), let alone Hali for the coming year (tough luck), is gonna hurt them pretty good.
Has to get healthy first. Still has a chance to make an impact. Warriors never helped him. Worse than what they did to Kuminga. Pacers must know something. To let Turner walk. Rooting for him
Huh? That is rather ignorant. They went out and hired one of the best big man coaches in the world. It was the NCAA, COVID-19, knee injury, and the business side of things that forced them to trade Wiseman.
Why the personal insult? Wiseman played poorly and is one of three/ever top two picks sent to the G League. Even there he had seriously negative +/- numbers. That’s Kirk’s over-assuredness in selecting JW over Haliburton (Joe/Meyer/Kerr worked Haliburton out and wanted to take him at two)…
What coach was that …..?????
Giant from “Jack and the Beanstalk”
Why you always cry lol. Now you are blaming ..
The NCAA ——. He hardly played any college ball. Might as well blame his HS …
Covid …..???? What ???? He was sick for two years …
Knee injury —- Yeah i guess his knee wouldn’t heal. Or wait wait …. No medical staff available ….
The Business side …..—. Im so sorry Warriors have to deal with everything every team in NBA deals with ….. you just sold out your team…lol
Warriors aren’t only team to mess up a draft pick Why do you have a need to defend this. Grow up please ….. Pistons didn’t want to do it either.
Ignorant? Warriors have doomed Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody etc. You had the 2nd and 8th pick at the time. You tried hedging your bets for the now and future, rather than put your chips in the middle and go all in. Aka backing how good Syeph is and the windows open for the championship run. That was extremely dumb.
Everyone is ignorant who does not agree with Giants74. Not everything is about you. Talk sports and stay on point.
Yeah can’t really blame the warriors for what unfolded. Not the same situation as Kuminga at all.
Exactly the same. Same draft. Its calked development of players you draft. Otherwise don’t draft them ….. three top picks and what they get ….. all the Warrior crybabies complain here for years about Wiseman , Kuminga, Moody. Why did they draft them. Boo hoo waaa wahi hihi waahhhh
I think that with Wiseman and Kuminga are talented, physical but raw players and the Warriors don’t have time to develop pure and simple.
That is the point right. If you draft a player. You must know what it is you need from this player. As a franchise you have to put in the time to help them grow. If you realize you don’t want or can’t do it. Then move on. And don’t blame everyone else, including the players.
They let Turner walk because they are a small market team that didn’t want to overpay him.
It has nothing to do with Turner possibly having injury concerns or thinking Wiseman is going to all of sudden become Hakeem.
This team is in trouble with no Haliburton and this assortment of centers.
It’s really wild how little actual basketball he has played since graduating high school. Who knows if he can develop but he’s still young enough…he’s the biggest “project” player maybe ever…
Two Achilles-recovery Centers…
I think Jackson is the one that gets 20+ minutes. Fierce on the boards…
You don’t all of sudden become healthy and develop offense after 5 seasons in the league.
He’s nothing more than a backup that can grab you a couple of rebounds and a block.
It’s really weird to think that with all the drama, etc around Wiseman that he’s still only 24 years old…