Pacers sign former Warriors top pick James Wiseman to two-year contract

The former second overall pick has agreed to a two-year deal with the Pacers, per a report.

The Indiana Pacers have agreed to a two-year contract with center James Wiseman, according to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The terms of the deal have not yet been reported, and it’s unclear whether the contract is guaranteed for its duration. Nevertheless, Wiseman will be joining his third NBA organization for his fifth professional season.

Wiseman, of course, was the second overall pick by the Golden State Warriors back in the 2020 NBA Draft. The consensus top recruit in the country a year prior, Wiseman only played in three college games before he was suspended by the NCAA for recruiting infractions surrounding Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway. Betting on their ability to tap into his potential, the Dubs selected the 7’0’’ big man.

Still a teenager, Wiseman was thrust into an extremely difficult situation for a player as early in his development as him. COVID’s cancellation of the Summer League and injuries also took away significant development opportunities for him early in his career. Wiseman showed flashes of productivity, averaging 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in just 18.3 minutes per game with the Warriors. However, his feel for the game, particularly on the defensive end, led him to fall out of favor with coach Steve Kerr.

At the 2022-23 trade deadline, the Warriors sent Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons as part of a series of deals that brought Gary Payton II back to Golden State. In Detroit, Wiseman continued to show flashes, but his flaws remained. In 87 games with the Pistons over the past two seasons, he has averaged 8.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game.

Despite his failure to live up to lofty draft expectations, Wiseman is still barely 23 years old. Given his size, athleticism, and relatively solid counting stats, it’s easy to see why the Pacers are willing to bet on him as a backup big.