Former No. 2 Overall Pick Becoming Trade Candidate

He was the No. 2 overall pick not too long ago, but enough time has passed for two teams now to have wondered about just how much of a bust 22-year-old James Wiseman is. The Golden State Warriors gave up on him and dealt him to the Detroit Pistons last season. Now, according to a report, the Pistons may be looking to move on from the 7-footer.

The downfall of James Wiseman doesn’t get talked about enough pic.twitter.com/jBWlNTrBTG

— BenMuse (@BenSimmons_Muse) November 19, 2023

Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype calls Wiseman a prime trade candidate, calling it a "troubling state of affairs for the former second-overall pick."

The acquisition was head-scratching from the Pistons’ perspective, especially since they already had so many centers. But if he was going to get regular minutes on any team, you’d think it would be with them. Marvin Bagley is the primary backup center in Detroit, leaving Wiseman minutes only when there’s an injury. If he cannot get into the rotation by the trade deadline, he could potentially be moved again to a team that could take a flier at center.

Wiseman has been a Did Not Play-Coach's Decision (DNP-CD) for head coach Monty Williams on eight occasions in 16 Pistons games this season, and on the two occasions when he showed flashes, scoring in double-digits, he followed that up with a zero-point dud. Overall, he's averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11 minutes per night in his eight contests getting on the floor.

He actually showed some promise of possibly starting to reach his potential after he arrived in Motown last February, averaging 12.7 points and 8 boards in 25 minutes a night. But that promise has gone down the drain this season. 

He's currently listed as the 4th center in the Pistons rotation, behind Jalen Duren, Marvin Bagley III and power forward Isaiah Stewart. 

It's starting to look like Wiseman could wind up with his 3rd NBA team at some point in this, his 3rd NBA season. 

Photo: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports