Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman could be in for a disaster

The clock is ticking for James Wiseman, who has only played 39 games for the Golden State Warriors but is already feeling a sense of dread as the potential for disaster increases.

Wiseman was selected No. 2 overall at a strange time in the NBA world. The league had just wrapped up its trip to Disney World in order to conclude the 2019-20 season during the early days of COVID-19.

The 2020 rookies were left with just one month between learning their new teams and making a debut. No Summer League — and for Wiseman, no training camp, as an injury held him on the sidelines.

Notably, Wiseman only played three games in college due to an off-court scandal.

Fast forward to April 2021, and a knee injury would cut Wiseman’s rookie season painfully short. Flashes of potential were shown but his overall production was minimal — leaving the Warriors with many questions.

Questions that would not be answered in the following season, as multiple setbacks in his recovery caused Wiseman to miss the entire 2021-22 campaign.

This brings us to the present day. The Dubs have celebrated another championship while Wiseman is still in the shadows, hopeful to make his presence known in his third NBA season.

And well, if he doesn’t deliver a wake-up call, doomsday could soon follow.

James Wiseman could be entering his final stretch with the Golden State Warriors if he doesn’t prove he’s worth keeping around.

As Anthony Slater of The Athletic recently pointed out, Wiseman is set to make $21 million across the next two seasons. This is a high price for the cash-strapped Warriors to pay for a player who has stalled at every stage of his career thus far.

How desperate could the Warriors become to avoid overpaying for Wiseman if he drops the ball in year three? Would they trade him? Would they go as far as to cut him next summer?

The road to the bottom can be a steep one for lottery picks. Injuries and lackluster performances add up quickly. Almost as quick as the NBA landscape shifts. Keep in mind, we will be four draft cycles away from Wiseman’s draft by next June.

Just ask 2013’s No.1 overall pick, Anthony Bennett. It took just four seasons for him to be out of the league.

For Wiseman, the upcoming season could be do-or-die time. His future with the Warriors is almost certainly on the line.