NBA Draft: How James Wiseman would fit with Golden State Warriors

It’s time to take a look at how James Wiseman could fit with the Golden State Warriors if they choose to select him in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The 2020 NBA Draft is a little over a month away. The Golden State Warriors lucked out by landing the No. 2 overall pick but they have so many options to choose from, it will be tough to predict what the franchise will end up doing.

Trade rumors are sure to heat up as we approach draft night. However, there is a reason to believe the Warriors will keep the pick for themselves. If so, James Wiseman is a prospect at the top of their wish list.

Wiseman only played three collegiate games but his impact was profound. He was a beast in the paint, snatching rebounds and rejecting shots at a high rate. His size makes him a spectacle and a player with potential on the defensive end.

Best Role: Rim Runner

His greatest skill is his shot-blocking ability. Wiseman is going to become an instant rim protector at the NBA level. This would be beneficial to the Warriors who ranked 20th in blocked shots last season.

Right off the bat, Wiseman improves the Dubs’ interior defense and brings size to the rotation. But, will his limited offensive game hold them back? Wiseman hasn’t shown much of a 3-point shot and could be a liability playing next to other poor shooters like Draymond Green and Eric Paschall.

On a brighter note, Wiseman is an easy target for lob passes. Players like Stephen Curry and Green will have a field day tossing passes up to Wiseman in pick-and-roll scenarios. Wiseman will get a ton of easy points in the paint for the Warriors. His athleticism will also help the Dubs play with speed without sacrificing size.

The best-case scenario is Wiseman being slotted into the rotation as a rebounding defender that can score in the paint as a constant ariel threat.

Spot in Rotation: Starter

It’s likely that if the Dubs select Wiseman with the No. 2 overall pick, he would become a starter quickly. Wiseman might be slowly introduced to the lineup since he hasn’t had much experience but within the first few weeks of the season, we should expect him to crack the starting five.

The Risk: Limited sample size

Wiseman can have a positive impact on the Warriors but he is a risky pick considering his small sample size. We haven’t seen him compete against good competition and it doesn’t help that Wiseman is set to miss the virtual NBA Draft Combine. The only thing we have to study is a few clips of him working out in empty gyms – not exactly the best film to analyze.

My biggest concern is that Wiseman doesn’t strike me as a skilled player. Most of what I’ve seen from him comes from his brute strength and athleticism. He won’t be as dominant against bigger opponents unless he develops more of his game.

Wiseman is a player who has an obvious path to success with the Warriors. The only question is remaining is, can he live up to his potential? The Warriors will have to wait and see.