Warriors center James Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2020 draft, required arthroscopic right knee surgery in mid-December, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Wiseman is nine months removed from the meniscus surgery he underwent last April, which is typically at the cautious end of a recovery timeline.
A previously unreported surgery was needed to address “minor-yet-persistent swelling” last month, which has slowed his return to action, Slater writes. Wiseman was cleared for full practices at the beginning of November and was reportedly on a similar recovery timeline as Klay Thompson, who made his season debut January 9, but after the setback it’s unclear when Wiseman will begin playing.
Slater notes that Wiseman is traveling with the team again and doing individual workouts. Head coach Steve Kerr says the 20-year-old is inching closer to three-on-three and five-on-five full-contact activity in the weeks ahead.
“His rehab is going really well,” Kerr said. “His knee is feeling good. His spirits are up, he’s bouncing around practice — high energy. He’s getting ready to play with some contact. It’s exciting just to see a smile on his face and to see him back after this long of an absence.”
However, as Slater relays, with his long-awaited debut pushed back further, it’s reasonable to question how much Wiseman will actually contribute once he’s fully healthy. The Warriors are a legitimate championship contender and acclimating a raw-but-talented center into a highly successful group could be a real challenge for the team.
Golden State is currently 30-10, No. 2 in the West and the second-best record in the league, one game behind the Suns.
Trade him for Myles Turner
What is the PLAN if Kevon Looney gets Injured before James Wiseman returns????
Nobody has ever explained the team’s Strategy if Looney is not available between now and then. We have been lucky that he has played in every game.
I don’t think asking Draymond to play extra Minutes at Center is good for his body. Ditto with Otto Porter.
Kuminga and JTA are kind of too short to play Center, and will either get posted up down low or have mid-range Shots taken over their head.
The decision to replace Marquese Chriss with a Stretch 5 in Nemanja Bjelica could rear its ugly head soon. He is a finesse player, not rugged, not a rim protector or shot blocker. We don’t want to ask him to play extra Minutes at Center. The other team will just practice their Layup drills in our paint.
Our low post defense is pretty much relegated to a few Minutes of Draymond at the 5, then Looney, and then a midget 3-Ring circus when Looney goes to the bench.
If its a short term injury you play Belli, JTA, OPJ, Dray at the 5 as needed. If its long term his contract is expiring so you could waive him and sign a big on the buyout/FA market. They could also for a short term fix cut Chiozza and sign a 2-way big.
Wiseman was just cleared for 1 on 1 contact and I thought it said 3 on 3 like a week ago much after the surgery so he appears like he could return before the end of Feb.
Kuminga and Chriss are the same height. Chriss is not very good defensively.
How you like the Game against the Bucks right now?
37 to 21 after the 1st Quarter. Looney in Foul trouble 2 Minutes into the game.
No other Big men on the roster to put into the Game.
Bobby Portis has 12 pints and 5 rebounds in this 1st Quarter.
The Warriors current roster construction is woefully UNPREPARED for a playoff series against a team with multiple quality Big Men like the Bucks.
Been saying it for a while now. Tonight is all the proof we need.
And with B. Lopez not playing. I don’t understand why the Warriors are not interested in contract any good center.
Do you really believe Chriss would have changed the out come?
This Warriors team hasn’t been that reliant on a big man. I mean they had guys like McGee, Bogut and Pachulia on center. None of them were exactly good centers.
So why all of a sudden they are in need of a good center?
I mean they have won championships without relying on size. I think they just have to make some adjustments to fix some problems.
There is no way that the Warriors pass to semifinals with Looney being the first option for center even if Wiseman is playing. Need a proved center urgently!! Can you imagine Looney and Wiseman defense over Embid, Gianis, Jokic, Sabonis, Lopez….
He looks so bored and out of it on the sidelines. Just looks like a little kid who wants to be somewhere else…. He needs to get into it and not be so down…. And act like he’s #2 pick.
no they should move him before he becomes disgruntled and asks for a trade publicly, tanking his value…you heard it hear First.
They’ll make a move it’s just a question of whether they include Wiseman or Kuminga in it. I could see them getting Nurkic, Turner, maybe even a guy like Poeltl.
Yep. I was thinking the same. Nurkic + 2nd round pick for Wiseman. GSW get a center on an expiring contract who has played in a similar system and may be able to adapt quickly. They lose out on a future star who may be limited by injuries. Blazers still have Zeller if the Wiseman craters.
If they are dealing with SAS, I think yhey go for Thad Young much cheaper
GSW will not trade Wiseman for any expiring like Nurk.
I’m thinking Looney/Moody/pick for Poeltl
Think Wiseman just need some playing time and freedom. GSW are to busy trying to win which is understandable with their team but as a young centre you need to get minutes under your belt and learn from your mistakes.
He would be so good on so many other teams and I feel he’s just having his career slowly wasted in GSW which is surprising for that team.
Would love to see him on the Raptors, Hornets, Pistons, Rockets, Thunder or Spurs.
Of those teams Spurs could give up Poetl and picks. Would love to see Pop try turn him into David Robinson. Plus Wiseman mixing it up with Murray and Keldon Johnson
I disagaree. I would like to see him in Charlotte having fun with the other young guys, playing fast bball. They are a big man away from doing some real serious damage in the East. don’t kick the bees nest kids! LOL
Yeah I did list the Hornets. Think he could be a great fit there too. They also have the young contracts to match with a PJ Washington or whatever
They have looked bad since Klay Thompson has returned
lots of respect for Klay but that guys seems to enjoy talking about himself more than he enjoys playing basketball. a-noy-ing. warriors need to clean it up…
So glad you said that. I thought I was the only one that thought Klay was super annoying.
I guess there are 2 of you.