James Wiseman is already looking like the steal of the offseason

When the Indiana Pacers signed center James Wiseman to a two-year, partially guaranteed $4.8 million contract this offseason, there were not incredibly high expectations about his arrival. The Memphis alum initially joined the NBA after the Golden State Warriors drafted him second overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Since then, Wiseman has not panned out in the league.

Wiseman is already on his third team after a lackluster stint with the Detroit Pistons. Already deemed potentially the biggest bust of the 2020s, this season is make-or-break for Wiseman's career. However, through two games in the preseason so far, the big man not only looks like a rejuvenated player, but he may become the steal of the offseason.

James Wiseman has played great for the Pacers so far

Wiseman's first game as a Pacer came during the team's preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks. In the loss, Wiseman started the game in place of Myles Turner, who was dealing with a minor knee injury. Wiseman played 16 minutes, scoring eight points on a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. Additionally, he recorded four rebounds.

While his stat sheet on its own was decent, Wiseman's ability to run with the Pacers' fast-paced offense was an incredibly welcoming sign. While he may have had a disappointing start to his NBA career, Wiseman was always very athletic and possessed great size as a 7'0" center. In his first game, he showcased exactly how he can use this to revive his career with the Pacers.

Additionally, after an impressive debut for the Pacers, the one-time NBA champion followed that up with an even more impressive performance. In Thursday's victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wiseman moved to the bench in favor of a returning Turner. However, despite playing a smaller role on paper, Wiseman played well during his time on the court.

In just 11 minutes off the bench, Wiseman recorded eight points on 4-for-6 shooting and 10 rebounds. To put this into perspective, Turner recorded 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting, three rebounds and two assists. Additionally, backup center Isaiah Jackson recorded two points on 1-for-3 shooting, three rebounds, three blocks, and one assist in 10 minutes.

It is likely the Pacers will find a way to utilize both Wiseman and Jackson this season as they each offer a unique skillset. However, those in the Wiseman fan club should be happy with what they have seen out of him so far.

Yes, it is just preseason, but that does not make Wiseman's performances any less promising. He doesn't look flawless, especially on the defensive end, but he has proven he can help the Pacers contend immediately. And considering how cheap his contract is, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about what he can continue to bring to the team.