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James Wiseman should be No. 1 on the Golden State Warriors big board

By Nathan Beighle

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: James Wiseman #32 of the Memphis Tigers waits on the court during a timeout during the second half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: James Wiseman #32 of the Memphis Tigers waits on the court during a timeout during the second half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors will have one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, and they should target Memphis center James Wiseman.

James Wiseman will be one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, and he’s the perfect fit for the Golden State Warriors. At the top, there are two prospects that shine compared to the field: Wiseman and Anthony Edwards.

Wiseman, due to his NCAA suspension, won’t take the court again till mid-January. While that shouldn’t impact his draft stock, it will reduce the amount of film scouts will have on the draft’s best center.

Although additional penalities could’ve come down on the Penny Hardaway-coached Memphis, Wiseman did already play a few games this season. During those mere three games, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points on 77% shooting, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.

For Golden State, their last missing piece is a quality rim protector. Wiseman, who would easily be one of the best rim protectors at the collegiate level, is a player that could come into the league and make an instant impact.

This Golden State Warriors season hasn’t gone as played. They’ve won just five games in their first 25. By the time Stephen Curry even returns to the court, the Warriors will likely already be out of playoff contention.

Looking towards the future, if the Warriors keep Russell, they’ll need a way to compensate for the lacking defensive prowess in their backcourt. At the same time, they’ll want to add a player that will get instant action.

That’s James Wiseman.

Edwards, a gifted athlete, has more risk associated with him, especially if he can’t develop his skill at the professional level. Cole Anthony and Lamelo Ball could both be great, but they’ll get little time over the likes of Curry and Russell.

While drafting for fit isn’t always ideal at the top spot, it’s likely even if the Warriors aren’t holding the No. 1 overall pick Wiseman is the draft’s top pick.

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He’s that good, and his rebounding, scoring and rim protection make him the quintessential target for Golden State.

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