James Wiseman Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Wiseman Out Rest Of Season After Meniscus Surgery

April 15th, 2021 at 6:34pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The rookie season of Warriors center James Wiseman, the second pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is officially over. Wiseman went under the knife for surgery today in Los Angeles to address a right meniscal tear, the team announced in a tweet.

The Warriors, who confirmed that Wiseman will miss the remainder of the 2020/21 season, will supply an update for Wiseman’s recovery timeline in September. The club expects him to return in ’21/22.

Reports emerged on Sunday (as we relayed) that the 20-year-old big man did indeed suffer a meniscus tear and could be in jeopardy of missing the rest of the season as Golden State made a push for a play-in tournament appearance. He will finish his first NBA season out of Memphis having appeared in 39 games, including 27 starts.

The seven-footer posted averages of 11.5 PPG and 5.8 RPG on 51.9% shooting from the floor across 21.4 MPG. Head coach Steve Kerr has opted to sub in veteran big man Kevon Looney as the Warriors’ starting center.

Warriors’ Wiseman To Undergo Right Knee Surgery

April 14th, 2021 at 2:44pm CST by Luke Adams

Warriors center James Wiseman will undergo surgery on his right knee later this week, league sources tell Anthony Slater of The Athletic. The procedure is expected to take place as soon as Thursday, Slater adds.

Wiseman, who injured his right knee on Saturday, reportedly suffered a torn meniscus. The Warriors, who have spent the last few days getting multiple opinions on the injury and assessing the potential options, have decided that surgery is the way to go.

Although Wiseman will go under the knife, the exact nature of the procedure and his possible recovery timeline remain up in the air. As Slater explains, the surgeon likely won’t determine the best course of action until getting a clearer look at the tear during the procedure.

Trimming the meniscus is one option, which would result in about a four-to-six week recovery timetable. A full repair of the meniscus is also being considered and would mean several months of recovery time. The Warriors are comfortable with either approach, according to Slater, who says the rookie’s season is likely over either way, since the club wants to be cautious with the No. 2 overall pick.

In 39 games (21.4 MPG) this season, Wiseman averaged 11.5 PPG and 5.8 RPG on 51.9% shooting. In his absence, Kevon Looney has taken over as Golden State’s starting center. The team is also said to be mulling another frontcourt addition.

Warriors Notes: Wiseman, Center, Oubre, Curry

April 13th, 2021 at 1:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Asked on Monday about James Wiseman‘s status, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the team was still getting “multiple opinions” on the rookie’s right knee injury. Reports on Sunday suggested Wiseman may miss the rest of the season due to a torn meniscus, but Kerr suggested last night that no decisions have been made yet.

“He had an MRI and so we’re having multiple experts look at the MRI to determine what’s next,” Kerr said, per Nick Friedell of ESPN. “We don’t have any timetable yet. The biggest thing is making sure James is OK. He’s obviously had a lot of adversity this rookie season, with the wrist injury, now the knee injury and of course missing training camp, not having a summer league. He’s really gutted through a lot of difficulty. … And so this is yet another obstacle that’s been put in front of him.”

Here are a few more notes on the Warriors:

Kevon Looney will replace Wiseman in Golden State’s lineup, and Kerr acknowledged on Monday that the team will consider adding another center to its roster before the end of the season, Friedell writes. “We’re obviously very thin in the frontcourt,” Kerr said. “That’s obviously something that we will be looking at as we go forward and once we get word on what James’ prognosis is.” The Warriors currently have one open spot on their 15-man roster and could create a second if they don’t re-sign Gary Payton II when his 10-day deal expires.
Within the same ESPN story, Friedell notes that Kelly Oubre remains day-to-day with the wrist injury that sidelined him on Saturday and Monday. “I talked to him (on Monday), he said he’s feeling better,” Kerr said. “So I don’t think this will be a long absence, but we’ll just continue to say day-to-day.”
Stephen Curry passed Wilt Chamberlain on Monday night to become the all-time leading scorer in Warriors history. With that in mind, Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic explores what Curry and Chamberlain have meant to the Warriors and how both stars changed the game of basketball.

Pacific Notes: Ibaka, Mann, Wiseman, McKinnie

April 12th, 2021 at 5:53pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Clippers big man Serge Ibaka will not join the team on its three-game road trip this week, Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times tweets. He hasn’t played since March 14 due to a back injury.

Ibaka signed a two-year contract with the Clippers last offseason that included a $9.72MM player option for next season. He has appeared in 39 games, averaging 10.9 PPG and 6.7 RPG.

We have more from the Pacific Division:

Patrick Beverley‘s injury has opened up some playing time for Terance Mann, Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register notes. Beverley underwent surgery on Friday for a fractured hand. Mann has played a combined 58 minutes over the last two games, contributing 21 points and 11 assists. “I’ll tell you this, with the guys being injured and guys being out of the lineup, these young guys have really taken advantage of it,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said.
James Wiseman‘s knee injury provides more clarity to the Warriors’ approach to the remainder of the season, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. No longer concerned with prioritizing Wiseman’s development, they can now either go all out to collect victories and secure a playoff berth, or they can max out minutes for players they plan to build around next season. The No. 2 overall pick could miss the remainder of the season.
Lakers forward Alfonzo McKinnie has been placed under the league’s health and safety protocols and will miss Monday’s game against the Knicks, Jovan Buha of The Athletic tweets. McKinnie played a season-high 27 minutes against Brooklyn on Saturday, recording 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

James Wiseman May Miss Rest Of Season With Meniscus Injury

April 11th, 2021 at 2:50pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

2:50pm: The Warriors have tweeted that Wiseman suffered a “right meniscal injury,” while noting that the team is continuing to evaluate his most recent MRI results.

2:18pm: Warriors rookie center James Wiseman, the No. 2 pick out of Memphis in the 2020 draft, has been ruled out indefinitely with a right meniscus injury. There is concern that Wiseman may miss the rest of the 2020/21 season.

Multiple reporters indicate that the injury is a meniscus tear. Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets that Wiseman has a torn meniscus. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN echoes that statement, though he notes that the Warriors intend to consult with more doctors during the next few days.

Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets that two league sources informed him it was indeed a torn meniscus. Poole adds that the team has called it a meniscus injury while stopping short of confirming that it’s a tear (Twitter link).

After a strong start, Wiseman has had an up-and-down rookie season. Though at one point he had lost his starting role to veteran center Kevon Looney following a February injury absence, he had gotten the starting nod long-term once again beginning on March 23. Head coach Steve Kerr noted last week that Wiseman’s play would dictate his exact minutes load.

Across just 39 games (including 27 starts), the athletic 20-year-old is averaging 11.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 0.9 BPG in 21.4 MPG.

Warriors Notes: Wiseman, Oubre, Beal, Draft

April 11th, 2021 at 9:20am CST by Arthur Hill

Rookie center James Wiseman will have an MRI on his right knee, but the Warriors don’t believe his latest injury is a long-term one, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Wiseman hurt the knee on a dunk attempt in Saturday’s game against the Rockets. He grimaced in pain and tried to stay in the game, but was taken to the locker room to be evaluated.

Slater cites a “low level of concern” in the organization that it’s serious enough to keep Wiseman out for the rest of the season.

“Hopefully he doesn’t miss too much time,” Stephen Curry said. “It seems like when he takes a couple strides, he gets dealt a little adversity, so it’s kinda tough.”

“I asked him if he was straight,” Jordan Poole said. “He said he was all right. He’s tough. He’ll be all right.”

Wiseman had been playing well on the current homestand, with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the first half Tuesday against the Bucks, followed by an 18-point performance Friday against the Wizards. His rookie season has already been interrupted by a wrist injury in January that kept him out for 11 games. If Wiseman is sidelined again, coach Steve Kerr plans to start Kevon Looney at center and give Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson some minutes in the middle.

There’s more on the Warriors:

Kelly Oubre missed Saturday’s game with a sprained left wrist, but Kerr told reporters it doesn’t appear to be serious, Slater adds. Oubre also got hurt on a dunk attempt, landing on the wrist after colliding Friday with Washington center Robin Lopez. Kerr considers him day to day. With Oubre headed toward free agency this summer, Sean Deveney of Heavy looks at his potential value and says the Warriors would prefer to re-sign him.
With limited resources to improve this offseason, Golden State’s best option may be to hope the Wizards decide to trade Bradley Beal, writes David Aldridge of The Athletic. If Washington decides to hold onto Beal, Aldridge suggests Pacers center Myles Turner or Pelicans center Steven Adams as alternatives.
Slater and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic take an early look at the Warriors’ draft options, depending on where their picks land. The Timberwolves’ selection will convey to Golden State if it falls outside the top three.

Warriors Notes: Wiseman, Curry, Poole, Kerr

April 6th, 2021 at 1:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

James Wiseman could be a difference-maker as the Warriors try to reach the playoffs, but head coach Steve Kerr won’t “force the issue” when it comes to playing time for the rookie center, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN.

Wiseman, the second pick in last year’s draft, is averaging 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, but he hasn’t provided the consistent production that Golden State was hoping for. He saw just 18 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Hawks, and Kerr indicated his playing time moving forward will depend on his performance.

“I think development also includes observation from the sidelines, earning time, earning minutes,” Kerr said. “If there are mistakes made in the previous game, let’s work on those mistakes. And if we correct those then we get more playing time; if we don’t correct them then we get less playing time. So it can’t just be throw him out there and let him go for 30 minutes because frankly he’s not ready for that.”

Kerr expressed confidence that Wiseman will eventually reach his potential, but said he needs to take part in summer league and training camp before that can happen. Last year’s summer league was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, and Wiseman missed most of training camp because he was in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

There’s more on the Warriors:

Stephen Curry admitted the team had much higher expectations than battling to reach a play-in game, Friedell adds in a separate story. Curry’s return after missing most of last season with an injury was supposed to make the Warriors a contender again, but they’re clinging to 10th place after losing seven of their last eight games. “I hope it stings. I hope it’s uncomfortable,” Curry said after the latest loss. “I hope it motivates you to keep grinding, challenging yourself to get better. I hope nobody is content just being in this middle-of-the-road situation.”
Jordan Poole quickly won Draymond Green‘s respect by standing up to him in practice last year, according to Kendra Andrews of NBC Sports Bay Area. The second-year guard has raised his numbers across the board this season and appears to be part of the Warriors’ core for the future.
This season is Kerr’s biggest challenge since becoming a head coach, writes Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. Kerr inherited a team that was loaded with talent when he took the job in 2014 and has never had to focus on player development while trying to reach the playoffs.

California Notes: Lakers, Warriors Health, Curry, Wiseman

March 23rd, 2021 at 8:46pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

With All-Star Lakers forward LeBron James unavailable indefinitely as he deals with a high-ankle sprain, Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports wonders if a rival contender like the Clippers, Jazz, Heat, or Nets will be more motivated to try to make roster improvements at the trade deadline.

Meanwhile, Jovan Buha of The Athletic considers whether James joining his fellow injured L.A. All-Star Anthony Davis on the sidelines could impact the Lakers’ trade deadline plans. Frank Vogel certainly seems to think so.

“I’m sure we’ll get into deeper conversations in the coming days,” the Lakers’ head coach said. “But, obviously, when you have two key guys that are gonna be out, you look at the trade market differently and obviously the buyout market differently, so those are conversations that will be had in the coming days.”

Buha opines that the Lakers could use an additional ball-handler with James and Davis sidelined.

There’s more out of California:

Warriors big men James Wiseman and Eric Paschall have been given the green light to return to the floor for Golden State during tonight’s game against the Sixers, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). Both players have been quarantining per the league’s coronavirus protocols since last week.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr noted that All-Star point guard Stephen Curry will miss at least another week of play as he recovers from an inflamed tailbone, Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes. “This is going to be a little bit longer than we thought and hoped,” Kerr said. The team will reassess Curry’s injury next week.
Rookie Warriors center James Wiseman has been named the club’s starter at the position for the rest of the season, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reports. “James has come along really well. He’s picked up a lot of the concepts,” Kerr said. “He needs to be out there.”

Pacific Rumors: Mann, Clippers, Kings, Paschall, Wiseman

March 23rd, 2021 at 9:51am CST by Luke Adams

The Clippers don’t have any future first-round picks to offer up in trades and their roster is somewhat lacking in young talent, but second-year wing Terance Mann has emerged as an intriguing potential trade chip for the club, writes Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. Mann has established new career highs in points in each of his last two games, scoring 16 on Saturday and 21 on Monday.

If the Clippers make a deal, their preference would be to use veterans and second-round picks, but it’s a safe bet that potential trade partners will want Mann. The Kings inquired on the 24-year-old before agreeing to trade for Mfiondu Kabengele, according to Deveney.

“I don’t think they’re looking to trade (Mann),” a source told Deveney. “But I think they know when they get into some of the talks on higher-end guys, teams are going to ask for Mann. Everyone wants a first-round pick, but this kid is better than a lot of first-round picks from his class.”

Here’s more from around the Pacific:

Chris Mannix of SI.com makes the case for why the Clippers need to make a deadline deal to cement themselves as true title contenders.
The Clippers sent $2.7MM in cash to the Kings as part of Monday’s Kabengele trade, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The Kings still haven’t found any trades to their liking involving Nemanja Bjelica or Marvin Bagley III, according to Jason Jones of The Athletic, who says the team passed on an earlier opportunity to move Bjelica.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said on Monday night that there’s a chance Eric Paschall and James Wiseman will be cleared for Tuesday’s game vs. Philadelphia, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). A report last Wednesday indicated Paschall and Wiseman would be in the NBA’s health and safety protocols for at least a week.
Although the Suns will have some options at the trade deadline, they don’t need to make any big moves, argues Greg Moore of The Arizona Republic.

COVID-19 Protocols Sideline Wiseman, Paschall At Least One Week

March 17th, 2021 at 9:45pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Warriors big men James Wiseman and Eric Paschall will be quarantining due to COVID-19 protocols for at least one week, Kendra Andrews of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets.

The players were initially sidelined tonight for Golden State’s battle with the hapless Rockets, a 108-94 victory, after contact tracing revealed potential exposure to the novel coronavirus, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). Slater adds that some of the Warriors’ development staff and assistant coaches have also entered the NBA’s coronavirus protocols.

Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area notes (via Twitter) that the earliest Wiseman and Paschall can return to the floor for the Warriors will be next Thursday against the Kings. In the absence of both big men, the Warriors will most likely lean more on veterans Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.

Rookie center Wiseman has shown flashes of the promise that prompted the Warriors to select him with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA draft out of Memphis. He is currently averaging 11.8 PPG and 6.0 RPG, in just 20.8 MPG, across 29 games for the Warriors (including 17 starts). Second-year power forward Paschall, a 2019/20 All-Rookie selection, has seen his output decrease during his second season while playing on a healthier roster.

Warriors star Stephen Curry also left Wednesday’s game with an injury diagnosed as a tailbone contusion. While head coach Steve Kerr said it initially looked “kind of scary,” he added that he doesn’t expect Curry to miss much time, per Nick Friedell of ESPN.