James Wiseman's future with the Indiana Pacers was already uncertain, but after his rough preseason performance on Tuesday, his days with the team may be numbered.
The Pacers re-signed the Memphis alum to a partially guaranteed two-year, $5.7 million contract in the offseason. However, his future in Indiana was still up in the air for a couple of reasons: he is fresh off an Achilles injury, and he is part of a crowded center committee.
Currently, Indiana has four centers on the roster: Wiseman, Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley. It remains to be seen if the Pacers are going to keep all of them heading into the season, but if they decide not to, then Wiseman may be the odd man out because of his contract.
As the Pacers look to figure out their post-Myles Turner center situation, they will keep a close eye on everybody to see who can contribute as they aim to re-enter the title picture. While players like Huff looked great in Indiana's first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the same cannot be said for Wiseman.
In the victory, Wiseman recorded five points on 2-for-2 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, and a block in 16 minutes.
Though he did not necessarily play horribly, he looked a bit lost on both ends of the floor and seemed out of place often. Additionally, his bad hands (which have been a problem for his whole career) were on full display, mostly by failing to catch passes thrown his way.
It is fair to assume that he is just a bit rusty, having not played basketball in roughly a year, but the Pacers certainly still wanted to see more out of him against Minnesota. And, given that he is a legitimate cut candidate for Indiana, his preseason performance did not do him any favors.
What this could mean for James Wiseman in Indiana
Even if it wasn't perfect, one bad preseason game alone will not force the Pacers to cut Wiseman before the start of the season.
He will have more opportunities to turn things around and showcase his value, but if he doesn't make the most out of them, then cutting him could be a real possibility for the Pacers.
The Pacers are moving forward with a center-by-committee following Turner's departure, and this is likely the right decision. Replacing the Texas native is going to be difficult, and finding a one-for-one replacement right now is almost impossible (though Huff may have something to say about that). However, this is likely just a temporary solution to see who can work out for Indiana in the long run, so it is crucial that every big man on the roster brings their A-game.
Moving forward, it is important for Wiseman that he can take that next step and prove his worth to the Pacers. However, if his first preseason game of the year was any indication, then he may have to find a new home sooner rather than later.