James Wiseman is certainly a tantalizing prospect on first glance. It's exactly why the Golden State Warriors selected him second overall six years ago, believing he could develop into a superstar and future face of the franchise.
That proved to be nothing short of a trap, and one the New York Knicks just fell into albeit the expectations are now greatly reduced at the reigning champions. Wiseman has the physical and athletic tools to be a very good NBA player, and the Knicks are betting on him finally putting that together in his seventh NBA season.
Knicks just fell into James Wiseman trap Warriors know all too well
Wiseman won the Knicks final roster spot over former Denver Nuggets champion Bruce Brown on Saturday, securing a return to the league that few saw coming after just five games in the past two seasons.
New York was evidently enticed by Wiseman's physical skillset and athleticism, bringing them a point of difference as a third big behind All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and veteran Andre Drummond.
“But when you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent as a James Wiseman....You look for guys that coulda shoulda, but at his age maybe he still can be a coulda shoulda. That vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism," head coach Mike Brown said after the roster decision.
The Warriors believed in Wiseman's physical traits, so too the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. But when it comes to positioning, IQ, other intangibles, and just generally an ability to impact winning, the 25-year-old hasn't been able to flourish and become a valuable piece on a winning team.
Knicks in right position to take James Wiseman gamble
The 25-year-old hasn't been able to find a long-term home at any of his three previous destinations, so what will make New York any different? There's also an irony to the fact Brown, a long-time Warrior assistant, saw how raw Wiseman was through the first couple of years of his career, yet has now had an influence on the Knicks taking a gamble on him.
New York may be in the perfect position to actually take this risk though. As much as there's now pressure on Wiseman at a big market team looking to go back-to-back, it's also the kind of low-risk, high upside move that a reigning champion team can afford to make.
This might be Wiseman's last opportunity to make it at the NBA level, but there's still major doubt on whether his athleticism can materailize into being a viable rotation player for the Knicks.
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