Every NBA career will not look the same. As observers, we can sometimes write young players off too quickly. When a guy doesn’t look good early on, we get pessimistic. It’s not our fault. Throughout history, we’ve seen plenty of promising young players fall flat. Sometimes, it’s a matter of the situation that they land in.
With that said, it isn’t even clear what the best situation looks like. Take James Wiseman of the Detroit Pistons. He started his career with the Golden State Warriors. That wasn’t the best situation for him. The Warriors were contending, and Wiseman was too young to contribute. As a result, the Warriors sent him to the Pistons for a return that did not befit a recent second-overall pick.
Is Wiseman in a better situation in Detroit? That’s debatable. Jalen Duren looks like the long-term starting big man in Motor City. Even Marvin Bagley III and Isaiah Stewart offer Wiseman some stiff competition. This rebuilding team has a logjam of young big men. Could they send Wiseman to the Washington Wizards as a result?
The Trade Proposal
Detroit Pistons Receive: G/F Landry Shamet, F Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Washington Wizards Receive: C James Wiseman
Every NBA rebuild will not look the same, either. Sometimes, that can impact the careers of young players. After all, there are different philosophies about rebuilding. Some teams look to balance their roster from the onset. Apparently, the Detroit Pistons are not one of those teams.
It’s not that the Pistons are rebuilding poorly. They simply have a different philosophy. The Pistons are stockpiling talent. The plan is likely to assemble as much as they can and figure out what works later. As a result, this roster is somewhat mismatched. The Pistons have a surplus of young lead playmakers with questionable shots and a glut of young big men.
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How will the Wizards rebuild? We don’t know yet. This team is in the infancy stages of their rebuilding process. With that said, they may have given us a hint on draft night. After years of picking safe, low-ceiling prospects with high floors, the Wizards grabbed Bilal Coulibaly. Should they pair him with Wiseman?
Why The Washington Wizards Do The Deal
Even Washington wouldn’t be a perfect situation for Wiseman. After all, they’ve got Daniel Gafford on their roster. He’s a few years older than Wiseman, but he’s been significantly more productive in his career to date. At 25, the Wizards may want to keep him around.
In other words, it depends on their rebuilding philosophy. If Washington wants to tank, they may consider moving Gafford. He could net them a decent return on the open market from a contender looking to upgrade their big-man rotation. In that event, the Wizards could clear the lane for Wiseman as their big man of the future. For what it’s worth, he’s only 22. Wiseman has room to improve.
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In fact, he’s already flashed improvement. Wiseman showed signs of life after moving from the Warriors to the Pistons. Even if he’s never a superstar, he could be a good defensive big man who finishes plays on the other end of the floor. Should the Pistons give him up?
Why The Detroit Pistons Do The Deal
It feels certain that Detroit will eventually have to choose between Wiseman and Duren. They should choose Duren. He had a much better rookie season than Wiseman – simply put, he’s on a better trajectory. Duren looks like he’ll be a more versatile defender, and his plus passing gives him an offensive wrinkle that Wiseman doesn’t have.
Unfortunately, Wiseman won’t command a king’s ransom on the open market. By now, his draft pedigree has no bearing on his trade value. The Warriors received Gary Payton III and a collection of second-round picks for Wiseman. The Pistons are doing a little better here. Ironically, they’re picking up another former Warrior in Patrick Baldwin Jr.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Marvin Bagley III, Detroit Pistons & Washington Wizards Updates
He’s another example of how every NBA path is unique. Baldwin Jr. was seen as a top prospect until a bad college season knocked him off course. If he hits his ceiling, he’ll be the type of sweet-shooting wing that this young roster is missing. The Pistons would simply have to hope that his career takes an unexpected turn.
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