James Wiseman on the Warriors, Timberwolves, and where he’d like to play

With the 2020 NBA draft right around the corner, James Wiseman faced the media for the final time before Wednesday’s draft night. The projected lottery pick spoke with a level head throughout the press conference, displaying maturity way beyond his years.

Is Wiseman Golden State’s missing piece?

The young centre has worked out for both Golden State and Charlotte, who hold the second and third picks respectively.

When asked about the possibility of being drafted by Golden State, Wiseman said, “It would be great because they have won a lot of championships. That type of tradition and playing in that environment would be great for me.”

The Warriors appear to be front runners in securing Wiseman. When speaking about what was discussed in his interview he said, “They talked about my contribution to a team, what I will bring and how I would affect the team with my abilities and talked about my character off the court.”

On the face of it, Wiseman to the Warriors would be a good fit. A challenging and winning environment would certainly give him a strong footing in his rookie season. In return, the Warriors would get some much-needed height and length at the centre position, coupled with increased athleticism. If Wiseman continues to improve his game and grow into his size, then he could become an important player for the Warriors in the future.

With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green all back from injury this season, the Warriors will be expected to make the playoffs. This type of expectation in a rookie season will certainly suit James Wiseman’s personality and driven nature, providing him with a strong platform to build from.

Why would Minnesota pass on Wiseman?

Interestingly, Minnesota has not witnessed a workout or interviewed Wiseman, but he has a lot of recommendations from them. The lack of contact from the Timberwolves could be down to Karl-Anthony Towns, who would certainly limit Wiseman’s game time.

The Timberwolves obviously have the pick of talent this year, holding that all-important first pick. With KAT at centre, it is hard to see why Minnesota would use that first pick to draft a centre. Given they have the option of drafting either LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards it would not make much sense for the Timberwolves to pursue Wiseman.