According to Forbes’ Evan Sidery, the Detroit Pistons have renounced the rights to James Wiseman. With this move, the 23-year-old becomes an unrestricted free agent. While a return is still an option, it seems unlikely.
The Pistons will soon renounce James Wiseman making him an unrestricted free agent.
Instead of giving Wiseman a 1-year qualifying offer, Detroit prefers to clear more cap space.
The former No. 2 overall pick will be an intriguing buy-low option on the veteran’s minimum market. pic.twitter.com/yJnn54Cc0Y
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 26, 2024
Last season, his first full season with Detroit, Wiseman averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Furthermore, he appeared in a career-high 63 games and started six of them.
The Golden State Warriors drafted Wiseman with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. However, he only played in 60 games for the team before his trade to Detroit. Despite being considered one of the biggest busts of the decade so far, Wiseman is still a decent big man, and as Sidery mentions, is “an intriguing buy-low option.”
Detroit Pistons Moving On From Former Top-3 Pick
James Wiseman Still Believes in Himself
The Tennessee native has not given up on himself just yet. In a February interview with FOX Sports, Wiseman said he believes he “can be a great player” in the NBA despite the bust title.
“I believe I can be a great player,” Wiseman told FOX Sports. “But just staying humble, though. Just taking it one day at a time because the NBA is a long process and life’s not easy. So I just gotta put in work and keep getting better every day.”
Monty Williams, who was the head coach of the Pistons last season, praised Wiseman’s attitude and work ethic.
Monty Williams on how Wiseman has handled his role: “The best of anyboy on our team…He has the best attitude. He comes in and works hard. He’s not happy when he doesn’t play, but I like that…I just love his approach with everything that has been said about him at that pick.”
Although things have not worked out for Wiseman so far, he is still young and has shown flashes of potential. Hopefully for him, another change of scenery will help him elevate his game to another level.
The Last Word on James Wiseman
Wiseman is an interesting redemption project for any team who may have interest in adding him to their roster. He may never reach the ceiling he was expected to in 2020. However, he still provides value on and off the court. He has improved as a post-up player and overall offensive talent. His defense still needs work, but it is not too late for him to improve on that side of the ball. Wiseman could provide value to teams like the Los Angeles Lakers or New Orleans Pelicans who need some answers at the center position. Additionally, he could bring extra depth to a team like the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics. His status this summer is something worth monitoring during the offseason.
