James Wiseman

[KGdaBom]

There aren't many prospects in this class who have the potential to make GMs look completely foolish for passing on them. Wiseman is one of them.

And hopefully Rosas is not one of those GMs he makes look foolish.
However, if Rosas does pick him he can't make any GMs look foolish for passing on him. He could only make Rosas look foolish for picking him.

[KGdaBom]

I can't get James Wiseman out of my mind. I think people have been too critical of him, like comparing him to say Hassan Whiteside. If all you look at is that he's a 7-footer, sure. If you think there's no potential for growth, sure. He could come into the league and play like Whiteside from Day 1.

But when I watch him, I see more. I see movement skills, passing ability and 3-point potential that put him on a different development trajectory than Whiteside. I'm not going to put him on the same path as Garnett or Antetokounmpo, but I think he could be a longer Jaren Jackson Jr. I do think he could potentially play two positions in the NBA, even if he ultimately plays a majority of his minutes at just one.

A lot of draftniks love them some Onyeka Okongwu. And while I think he can have a nice NBA career, I personally believe it'd be foolish to draft Okongwu over Wiseman. As good as his defense is, I believe his offense is just as rough. And I don't see the same tools for offensive growth as I do for Wiseman. I think everyone is looking at him and hoping he could develop into Bam Adebayo, but I think it's just as likely his development stops at Bismack Biyombo or Gorgui Dieng.

Okongwu isn't the type of player I'd want to draft in the Top 5. Wiseman isn't the type of player I'd want to pass on.

I think Okongwu is the safest pick in the draft. Wiseman has greater upside and IMO is still pretty damn safe. I agree to drafting Wiseman over OK.

[King Ken]

I think he sucks as a Basketball player and his realized potential is a lower end starting center but his talent and tools are insane and if he goes to the Warriors, he might have a chance to reach his ceiling

[KGdaBom]

Yeah no, Wiseman is miles far as a prospect as JJJr. Not even close. Jackson had a more established perimetre game and shot, while with Wiseman you are talking about the possibility of one. And their defense is like comparing an orange to a supermarket orange juice.

Have we been a little too critical with him? Probably, this board was really harsh on Morant. But the franchise player potential is not there, at all.

Franchise player is possible with Wiseman and I'd even say likely.

[KGdaBom]

I don't see Ayton or David Robinson in him. He looks more like Alonzo Mourning.

if he's a taller Zo 2.0 you just firmed up my desire for him to be the #1 pick in the draft.

[nolang1]

Read on Twitter

This is his path to utility. Pair him with shooters on the wing and it could be lethal transition offense. Not as useful in the halfcourt or crunch time.

Not sure how this is some top-secret knowledge. There has been this circular discussion with him all year where some people say "if he's not a DPOY type of defender like Gobert and can't drain threes or dime people up like Jokic he's basically worthless" and it seems like the obvious answer is that he he does have potential defensively and can easily make up some of the distance between him and Gobert by being more of an offensive threat between running the floor (which is severely underrated because most teams have like 20 transition plays a game and someone who consistently beats the defense down the floor and threatens an easy dunk is going to have a clear positive impact on offensive efficiency that doesn't show up in any box score numbers), better hands/coordination, and the potential to at least take and make shots outside of dunking range.

Like nobody says Gobert is a major boon to a team's half-court or crunch time offense, but considerably more people will least at say he's been a top 15 or so player on the strength of his excellent defense and being efficient enough as an offensive rebounder and finisher on offense. I don't think most people realize the paradox where if having your most talented offensive player create almost everything for you is the most efficient way of playing offense, but if your most talented offensive player is only top-20 rather than top-2 you're still going to be at a disadvantage most games. It's just very likely that this draft might have some all-stars but won't have anything of mvp-caliber players.

[KGdaBom]

more Deandre Ayton to me than any of these other names being thrown out, not as athletic as Ayton and Ayton was more sophisticated offensively, but Wiseman has better defensive instincts

i think he'll be a less variance version of Ayton

They are like nothing alike, Ayton had more moves, more upright, they have different bodies in general, Ayton much stronger lower body for example

If Ayton was in this draft their would hopefully be no question whatsoever of him going #1. Wiseman could potentially be better, but it's a long shot.

[King Ken]

more Deandre Ayton to me than any of these other names being thrown out, not as athletic as Ayton and Ayton was more sophisticated offensively, but Wiseman has better defensive instincts

i think he'll be a less variance version of Ayton

They are like nothing alike, Ayton had more moves, more upright, they have different bodies in general, Ayton much stronger lower body for example

If Ayton was in this draft their would hopefully be no question whatsoever of him going #1. Wiseman could potentially be better, but it's a long shot.

I am not sure about that. I do think they are similar talents. I just see one as NBA ready and the other as ready in 2021 and still needing more time. Obviously, going to GS changes things because that's an easy system for a center like Chriss or Wiseman to play in

[KGdaBom]

I would take Wiseman at 3 because I would gamble that there are a lot better guards/wings in next years draft, and with Wiseman's hands, rebounding and at-the-rim shotblocking he can at the very least play 25 mpg in the regular season

If you want him trade up to 1 because the Warriors will take him if the Wolves don't. We will be asking for PJ Washington to make the swap. Is that too steep?

[KGdaBom]

I see potential to be Tyson Chandler with better offense.

I'd be all over picking Chandler with better offense.

[TheZachAttack]

What’s the difference between Wiseman and Davis coming out of college?

[TheZachAttack]

Man, Wiseman might be an Anthony Davis type-level big man prospect. He’s so huge, so long, and moves so well... he’s going to be a problem on the defensive end forsure.

I didn’t realize just how dominant his numbers were (small sample size) in his 3 games at Memphis. Per 36 minutes his averages were:

-31 points (77% FG%)
-17 rebounds (6.7 offensive)
-14 free throw attempts (70% FT)
-4.7 blocks

-150 ortg/ 81 drtg

This includes a 23/18 (6 offensive rebounds) 2 blocks per 36 game against a top 15 team Oregon. If he put up those types of numbers for a whole season...

That’s pretty insane, if he can work out to the corners as a spot up 3 point shooter (he already has good touch out to 18 feet) he could be an absolute monster. Now obviously his sample size was small, but I think he could be a little bit overlooked because we haven’t really seen him.

Now the biggest issue is that Rosas’s philosophy is to maximize his best player. The player who will have to make the most concessions is the Wolves best player. In addition, matchups that Towns creates that makes him so valuable (like forcing opposing 5’s to come out the perimeter and away from the rim) would be taken away. Towns would also be pushed further and more consistently out to the perimeter which is a little bit worrying.

However, I think people might be underselling Wiseman a little bit.

[Braggins]

I would take Wiseman at 3 because I would gamble that there are a lot better guards/wings in next years draft, and with Wiseman's hands, rebounding and at-the-rim shotblocking he can at the very least play 25 mpg in the regular season

If you want him trade up to 1 because the Warriors will take him if the Wolves don't. We will be asking for PJ Washington to make the swap. Is that too steep?

Yes

[KGdaBom]

I would take Wiseman at 3 because I would gamble that there are a lot better guards/wings in next years draft, and with Wiseman's hands, rebounding and at-the-rim shotblocking he can at the very least play 25 mpg in the regular season

If you want him trade up to 1 because the Warriors will take him if the Wolves don't. We will be asking for PJ Washington to make the swap. Is that too steep?

Yes

Then you don't want him much. He's the best player, but the Wolves need him least of the top three drafting teams. I would draft him for the Wolves anyway.

[Braggins]

If you want him trade up to 1 because the Warriors will take him if the Wolves don't. We will be asking for PJ Washington to make the swap. Is that too steep?

Yes

Then you don't want him much. He's the best player, but the Wolves need him least of the top three drafting teams. I would draft him for the Wolves anyway.

They can just take Okongwu, who many people have rated higher, at 3 in that scenario... They aren't going to give up their best asset to move up two spots in a crappy draft. PJ would be a top 5 pick in this draft.

[KGdaBom]

Yes

Then you don't want him much. He's the best player, but the Wolves need him least of the top three drafting teams. I would draft him for the Wolves anyway.

They can just take Okongwu, who many people have rated higher, at 3 in that scenario... They aren't going to give up their best asset to move up two spots in a crappy draft. PJ would be a top 5 pick in this draft.

5+3 for 1 is about right. Okongwu isn't a center. He would be Dray Green lite without the passing ability, but better rim protection. They need a center. I don't expect them to give us Washington to be honest. It would be my hope, but not my expectation. I'm just saying the Warriors will regret it if they don't come out of this draft with Wiseman. He's the only player in this draft that would make an impact for their team and I'm hoping my Wolves figure out some way to prevent them from getting him without giving us compensation.
If we draft anybody other than Wiseman without getting compensation we did not play our cards right.

[DIO]

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[MotownMadness]

Watch on YouTube

Hes got a nice shooting stroke

[TheZachAttack]

Gobert floor. Anthony Davis type ceiling. Should be #1 pick in most drafts.

[No-Man]

Gobert floor. Anthony Davis type ceiling. Should be #1 pick in most drafts.