Now is not the time to give up on James Wiseman. The Golden State Warriors need to ignore 99 percent of trade offers and cling tight to their young center this summer.
Outside of receiving a godfather deal, the Golden State Warriors need to cling tight to James Wiseman this offseason.
The Warriors will need to be stubborn when it comes to moving Wiseman. Unless a team is ready to unload an All-Star caliber player in exchange, the Dubs are better off sticking to their guns and seeing if Wiseman can make a leap in development.
We’ve seen how someone like Deandre Ayton has been able to steadily work on his game to finally become a crucial factor in pushing the Pheonix Suns to a title run. Though it might take a few years, there is no reason Wiseman can’t do the same in Golden State.
All of the physical tools are there. He’s a gigantic big man with some of the best athleticism in the NBA. It’s really just a matter of learning the ropes and carving out a niche role for Wiseman. Even though he’ll be restricted most of the summer with an MCL injury, I don’t think it will take too long for Wiseman to improve.
He’s in the best system imaginable next to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Wiseman will be an instant impact player once he becomes comfortable setting screens, rolling hard to the rim and cleaning up the glass.
On the flip side, playing on a team with championship aspirations will either make or break Wiseman. In Ayton’s case, we saw how mastering the little things made him elevate his game on the highest level. Will Wiseman do the same? Or will he crumble under pressure?
The truth is, we just don’t know. Unlike other prospects, Wiseman didn’t even get to compete much in the NCAA and was injured during the Warriors’ Play-In games. He hasn’t played in a high-stakes game yet in his career and there is no way to simulate that level of pressure.
This will be the real key to Wiseman’s development. I don’t doubt he will be able to replicate the type of rim-running presence Ayton has created in Phoenix. However, we need to see if Wiseman can rise to the occasion when Golden State needs him.
For that reason, the Warriors have no reason to trade him before seeing how he performs next season. Giving up on Wiseman too early could mean losing a crucial centerpiece to their future championship runs.
Patience is a virtue and giving Wiseman some time to grow could pay dividends for the franchise.