The Warriors and James Wiseman are optimistic that the former No. 2 overall pick will be able to play in next month’s Summer League, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Wiseman suffered a torn right meniscus last April and had the injury surgically repaired, then had a second, more minor surgery in December to address persistent swelling in the same knee. He was officially ruled out for the 2021/22 season in late March.
According to Charania and Slater, Wiseman took a multi-day trip to London with Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers in April, and underwent an orthobiologic, plasma-rich injection there to help promote healing in his knee. Since then, he has gradually increased his on-court activity and has begun sprinting without pain. Sources tell The Athletic that Wiseman is getting close to being cleared for full-contact workouts.
A final decision on Wiseman’s availability for Summer League – both the California Classic on July 2-3 and the Las Vegas event from July 7-17 – is expected to be made within the next couple weeks, per The Athletic’s duo. Wiseman stated in early May that his goal was to be available to suit up for Summer League games.
Although Wiseman has only played 39 total games in his first two NBA seasons and the Warriors are back in the NBA Finals without him, the 21-year-old center remains an important part of the franchise’s long-term plans, according to Charania and Slater. He’s under contract for 2022/23 and the team is expected to pick up his $12.1MM option for 2023/24 this fall.
Still, as The Athletic’s writers note, the Warriors could face some difficult roster decisions soon, with starting center Kevon Looney headed for unrestricted free agency this offseason. Two years ago, Golden State might have envisioned handing the starting job to Wiseman at this point, but given his relative lack of NBA reps, that seems unlikely to happen quite yet, meaning the team may feel more pressure to retain Looney.
This tells me the Warriors intended to trade James Wiseman.
There is no logical reason to play James Wiseman in the Vegas Summer League just 60 days after going to Europe and receiving ANOTHER treatment to help heal his balky knee.
No reason to make a statement such as this unless prior to summer league around draft day, the Warriors plan on cutting bait with this player.
There’s been too many surgeries, too many promises of untapped potential, that it’s time to move on. There’s no way he should play in a summer league. Yes he should be ramping up activity, but playing 5 games in a summer league? Heavens no, keep him away from there.
The statement was made to assure potential buyers that he’s ready to go and healthy. Posturing for a trade IMO. The Warriors are tired of waiting for him, and will try to recoup something back while they still can. Any more setbacks and the value for this player diminishes quite a bit.
Umm…Huh? Teams would ask for a physical before a trade. So, announcement is irrelevant.
SFG74, The man can’t stay healthy. I wouldn’t play him five games in a summer league. He needs the time off to get a clean bill of health before they dump him. Just my opinion. Your take is probably better than mine.
He has only had one injury. Embiid missed his 1st 2 seasons. So, it is to soon to give up on Wiseman. He really has no trade value.
The Warriors we’re patient with Wiseman all season during a potential championship run when they could have used some help on the front line, why would their patience be wearing thin now?
It’s been a very long time since he’s played competitive basketball. Summer league would be a great opportunity to get him some in game action before next season when he very well could be the starting center if Looney leaves.
Taco, they would have played him if he was healthy. That’s why their patience is running thin. Get him a clean bill of health for trade and I would not risk playing him in a summer league. The man had three events this last season trying to get his knee right. December January then April in Europe. Time to cut bait. Just my opinion, yours is probably more accurate, but I’m sticking with mine.
This guy He really has no clue. He had one injury. Had swelling so they shut him down. You think he could be a contributor in the nba playoffs coming off injury with no in game experience in over a year? They shut him down to rehab and train. What’s the point in dressing him for a game just to sit him. Chemistry and continuity is a thing. A very important thing and that only comes with lots and lots of reps
One injury and he’s been out 2 years. All I’m saying is I think they’re building him up and he’s available for the right price on draft day. I think that’s a little bit of a clue. In fact it’s usually people that say others have no clue who really don’t have a clue.
Cutting bait makes zero sense unless someone would be willing to give up a decent haul for a player you are already convinced is toast. Zero sense.
Even if the Warriors have soured on him, the play is to try and rebuild whatever trade value he has left. And that involves him taking the court again and proving he’s actually healthy.
Sheagoodbye you make a good point but you know me I like going out on a limb.
Wiseman has not played in over a year so they need him to play in the summer league to get fit and show the knee is ready. So its not to trade him but see if he can stay healthy.
Arc, with all respect your statement is confusing to me. WHO are they trying to show that he’s healthy? Are they just trying to see for themselves if he’s healthy or that he needs another surgery? Okay I see what you’re saying. Makes sense.
Gary, there are some decent centers in draft. Even late. Good defenders if you trust mocks. If they go big in the draft they might trade Wiseman. Or am I sitting by a giant Coke bottle (left field)?
Claude, yes they might. A defensive guy really is all you need if you have Shooters everywhere else. Look at Robert Williams. Perfect Championship Center. Rim protector lob threat moves well. Even Looney is a championship Center. Good on the floor defense and rebounds. Sure hope they can keep him and I think they will. And yes there’s some big men available in the draft that could really help. Going to be exciting to see how it plays out.
Late 2nd round they should be able to get that 7 footer from Philippines who not only could develop but also use marketing for more fans since the base is heavily Asian.
Koloko from Arizona could be that guy Gary. Pac12 DPOY as a junior. 7 foot and 7′ 6″ wingspan. 230 pounds so needs to beef up a little but at 22 could be a savvier player than others. Has gotten better every year (big leap this year at AZ). Check him out.
Where are they saying he will be picked? I don’t see him on any boards as a 1st round pick. Could be a solid late round pick for GSW or 2nd round pick.
2 mocks have him going to gsw. None have him going higher than 28. The other mocks have him high in round 2 (31-35ish)
More for themselves than anyone else. His extension is coming up and you don’t want to give him a max contract if he is injury all the time. Also will give them time if he is not ready to pursue another big.
Gary, if you think the Warriors are planning to move on from Wiseman, who do you think they would trade for? What center could they realistically get for Wiseman in a trade? Granted they would likely need a third team involved. One guy I think might be decent fit is Mo Bamba. He is a shot blocker, can catch a lob, decent rebounder, and he developed a three point shot this past year. Watch his highlight clip against the Sixers. Impressive.
Dubmusic, they won’t necessarily trade him for a center. They’ll trade him for whatever is equal or better value doesn’t matter the position. Then as Claude said maybe they’ll draft a big man who can play defense or as you suggest a free agent out there.
Not sure who they could get I’m just throwing out there that with this statement I think at this time there applying good news to the guy for once.
Hey he’s ready to go or should be in summer league Etc. Come get him he’s a young guy and good to go. The store is open, give us a call.
I am a fan of JW and am really rooting for his success. He has the potential to be a special player and with coaching staff he is well on his way. I do think they need another center for a more complete rooster. JW and Looney and one more, a vet not a drafted center. Though drafting a center in the second round for a two-way contract in the G League would be a good move.
I agree I think they have looked around trying to parcel JW and will continue doing so….
GSW FO def runs it’s hype machines for trades better than most all orgs (that’s a compliment btw, I know GSW fans are prickly/defensive )
Just never saw the fit here long term short term or any term for GSW . Revisionist draft history’s are boring but man you do gotta wonder how fun this team would be w LaMelo, Think it’s better for Melo and the league he ended where he did but man fun to think about for a moment
Agree somewhat w Gary, GSW will be all roses on JW with backdoor hopes somebody wants to bite for some decent value- Warriors offensive system just doesn’t call for a C and the way the new NBA is played they can trade their awesome perimeter D for the shortcomings of being small down low (*Evidence – They are in a best of 3 for the whole enchilada today)
Prickly, no. Just say something that makes sense. It is pretty far fetched that they are trying to trade Wiseman. They don’t hype trades. They really don’t make trades. They geared their coaching staff to develop Wiseman. They prefer having a center, or two. That is obvious. They didn’t give up on Looney; his injuries were worse than Wiseman.
Looney has made it this far {mostly} due to birds and being dirt cheap – I like him , he’s good for them, but he more or less proves my point on Wiseman more than detracts from it. There’s no need to pay the slot
They’d trade him for a wing if they could. Otto could walk and Iggy’s done. The markets going to be saturated w TP-MLE Center’s the next couple years. Sell while there’s still some shine on the penny
They haven’t traded for a Wing in a few decades. Why would they start now? They prefer the draft, or free agency. And there is no indication that that they are going to make over their coaching staff again. So, they have no plans to trade Wiseman.
SFG74, I know there’s no indication they’re going to trade Wiseman. That’s why I’m coming out with the statement. I’m reading between the lines.
They’re not going to change their coaching staff they still have young players to develop. They have two 19 year olds that they expect big things from.
And reading between the lines is what you have to do with GSW because they play the game so well
I knew my hype machine comment would trigger a GSW fan, that’s why I included a {complimentary} explanation right after
Look your front office is brilliant, just look how they sold dinosaur Iggy off as what every team needed then getting him back for min 18 months later…look at how the Durant-Dlo-Wiggins+pick timeline happened flawlessly all while being over the cap ….These are things other front offices only dream of my friend .
You know how they do that? They are great at SPIN, there’s no beefs in NorCal, all skies are blue, our water’s cleaner over here, now come pay $1.20 on the dollar to drink some of it….and it works!
Ofc they would never broadcast selling Wiseman and lose value///between the lines is all your going to get with this team
Reading between the lines means you are missing the obvious. They brought in Milojevic to work with Wiseman. That’s what he does. If they didn’t think they needed a center, they wouldn’t have hired him. They would have no need for him. So, try and spin that.
They brought in Milojevic specifically to work with Wiseman. If they planned to trade Wiseman, they would not need Milojevic; his forte is working with big men. They were talking about wanting to get Wiseman into summer league games since the end of last season.
He’s barely played. They’re trying to get him reps so he’s as up-to-speed as possible for November.
Toddy, you are probably right. But I think I’m going to read into what they’re not saying.
This is too close to his previous procedures. If I planned on keeping him I would not play him in the summer league and just get him set up for a full training camp. Forget Summer League.
So the way I’m seeing it and of course going out on a limb, what do I know, I’m saying they’re setting this up as the store is open on this guy. Call us and tell us what you got.
Agree 100% that Warriors front office does exceptional job.
I happen to think Wiseman could turn into a great player for the Dubs for many years to come. They have four young players (JDub, Poole Party, Mo Moody, and Kuminga) that could be the next gen of Warrior stars. The future looks bright with our HofFers and the young guns learning from them.
You know what yes for the young man’s sake I hope he comes through and stays healthy. He has so much potential as a modern big man who can run the floor shoot the 3 and do all the stuff a big man does. Block shots etc.
I’m going out on a limb by taking this news a step further and thinking that if someone believes in this man as a franchise Center which he could be capable of, they might call the Warriors and offer a nice package. Maybe a 1 for 1, a good player, or maybe a good player and a pic. What’s life all about but for going out on a limb and taking a risk.
I am perfectly fine giving Wiseman time to develop. If they decide to go in a different direction then a player and a pic for him would do fine. I do think they need to sign a veteran center that can be a decent backup to Looney and JDub. Pretty sure the resign Looney and GP2.
Yes I would hope so too. I just think coming out with a statement like this has a purpose. A purpose other than well we have a player who’s rehabbing and doing great and going to play in the summer league.
The statement didn’t come from the Warriors. It came from a writer for the Athletic.
Where do you think the writers from the Athletic got the information?