The Indiana Pacers made a few moves this offseason, most notably trading for Jay Huff and drafting Kam Jones and Taelon Peter. However, one of their most overlooked ones may prove to be their most important: bringing James Wiseman back into the mix.
Indiana initially signed Wiseman last year, and he looked solid during his limited action in training camp and the preseason. However, he suffered an Achilles injury very early in his regular season debut with the Pacers, and the team ultimately traded his contract to the Toronto Raptors. Now, he will have another opportunity to shed the "bust" label that has been given to him and prove that he can contribute at a high level.
James Wiseman is a key player in the Pacers' center-by-committee
Following Myles Turner's stunning departure earlier this offseason that led to him joining the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers will now be tasked with replacing their former long-time big man. As it stands, it is expected that they will run a committee at center and see who sticks out.
Currently, most eyes are on Huff and Isaiah Jackson. However, Wiseman should not be overlooked, either.
The Tennessee native may never live up to his pre-draft hype, no matter how he might flourish in Indiana's system. However, this does not completely rule out any chance of him being a valuable player for the team as they look to find a permanent solution at center.
Wiseman is still just 24 years old and has a lot of room to grow. Furthermore, he is listed between 6-foot-11 and 7-feet-tall. Either way, has a lot of size, which, paired with his athleticism, could still make him a legitimate contributor in the NBA.
The Memphis alum has his flaws, and there is a reason many consider him a draft bust. He is not physical enough, especially given his build, his rebounding is extremely underwhelming, and he provides little defensive value. However, in his limited action with the Pacers so far, he has shown that he can be an asset and that he can run the floor, which is crucial in the team's system.
Perhaps most importantly, though, if there is any team in the NBA that can get the most out of Wiseman, it's the Pacers.
There is a lot to like about Wiseman. He is big, athletic, young, and he is on a cheap contract. Furthermore, the Pacers clearly like him enough to not only take a chance on him last year, but to also take another one even after he suffered an Achilles injury.
Wiseman may never become the player many expected him to become years ago, but he can still be a good NBA player for a long time. And as he looks to turn his career around, he will be a key player to monitor in Indiana next season.