According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, there is a possibility that the Indiana Pacers decide to move on from big man James Wiseman, who is guaranteed just $1.13 million of his $2.66 million contract.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the Pacers were going to sign Monte Morris, which meant they would have had to waive or trade someone to free up a spot for him. Pacers GM Chad Buchanan announced on Thursday that Morris has a calf injury, and he will not be joining the team. Regardless, Siegel suggested that the Pacers may not be committed to Wiseman, and they would be okay with cutting him loose if they need the roster space.
The Pacers initially signed the former No. 2 overall draft pick last year, and he looked fantastic in preseason. There were reasons for fans to be excited about his arrival and what he can do on the court. He proved that he could be a good fit due to his size, athleticism, and ability to run the length of the court. Unfortunately for him and the team, Wiseman suffered an Achilles injury shortly during his regular season debut and missed the remainder of the season.
Regardless, Indiana opted to bring him back this offseason as they look to navigate through the post-Myles Turner era after he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. It is clear that they are big fans of his and like what he brings to the table. However, it seems that he might not be with the team to begin the season, which may be a risky move that could backfire in a major way.
James Wiseman can rejuvenate his career with the Pacers
As it stands, the Pacers have four centers on the roster. In addition to Wiseman, they also have Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, and Tony Bradley. Typically, the average NBA team does not roster four centers, but given that Indiana is expected to run a center-by-committee, this could be a good move.
Huff and Jackson are considered locks to make the roster. They are both considered the likeliest of the four to replace Turner in the long run, and they each have the most upside. However, while he may not be their center of the future, the Pacers need to give Wiseman his opportunities.
He might never live up to his pre-draft hype, but Wiseman has the potential to be a legitimate asset in the NBA. He has legitimate size and can provide value on both sides of the ball. Additionally, he has already shown that he can play well in Indiana's system (even if it was a small sample size), and perhaps above all else, he is still just 24 years old.
Wiseman is still very young and has a lot of room to grow. If given the opportunities, especially with the Pacers, who have built a reputation for getting the most out of castaways (i.e., Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and, to an extent, Tyrese Haliburton, just to name a few), he can blossom into a fantastic player. Plus, given how badly the Pacers need to figure out their center situation, this would only help them as they aim to re-establish themselves as legitimate title contenders.
The Tennessee native can provide value, and he deserves a full season with the Pacers to prove that. Furthermore, in a season that is all about experimenting and seeing who can step up, this is a prime opportunity for Wiseman to potentially shed the "bust" label he has been given. He might not do it, but ultimately, he has at least earned the chance to try and make a name for himself in Indiana.
Of all the moves the Pacers might make before the start of the season, waiving Wiseman should not be one of them.