Last summer, the Indiana Pacers signed big man James Wiseman to a two-year, partially guaranteed deal. Despite being the second overall draft pick in 2020, Wiseman's career has not panned out. In stints with the Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons, Wiseman has done very little to live up to his pre-draft hype.
Signing with the Pacers was meant to bring a change of scenery and an opportunity for him to shed the "draft bust" label. After a solid preseason, it looked like Wiseman was trending in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Nashville native suffered an Achilles injury just minutes into his Pacers debut, ending his season with the team very early.
Wiseman has a team option for the 2025-26 season. If the Pacers opt to bring him back, he will have another chance to showcase his talents and turn his career around. However, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac, Wiseman may not last long enough for the Pacers to need to make this decision.
Pacers big man James Wiseman could be cut this week
January 7 may be an important day for the Pacers. As Smith mentions, that is the deadline for teams to waive players on partial/non-guaranteed contracts before they become fully guaranteed. Because of this, Smith indicated that the Pacers might waive Wiseman for financial and roster flexibility.
"Wiseman is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. This one is probably about needing a roster spot. If the Pacers need one, Wiseman might be cut loose. Otherwise, he’ll keep working on coming back to be a part of Indiana’s rotation next season."
There was a lot to like about Wiseman in Indiana. He is athletic and still young. Additionally, it seemed that he already caught the attention of his teammates and the staff. Unfortunately, it is fair to say that his Pacers career is likely over.
In addition to Wiseman, the Pacers also have Isaiah Jackson on the roster, who is also out for the year with an Achilles tear, as well as Thomas Bryant, who the team traded for in December. All three of these players are free agents in the offseason, and it would make the most sense for the Pacers to re-sign a big man they are already familiar with.
Wiseman deserves at least one more opportunity to in the league. He may never live up to his draft status, but that does not mean he cannot provide value on the court. Wiseman has shown a lot of flashes of being a legitimate big man in the NBA, including his brief time in Indiana. Unfortunately for Wiseman, he will likely have to take his talents elsewhere as run with the Pacers might officially be over.