Report: Ex-Warriors No. 2 pick Wiseman, Pacers agree to contract

Report: Ex-Warriors No. 2 pick Wiseman, Pacers agree to contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former Warriors No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman has found a new home.

The 7-foot-1 center has agreed to a two-year free agent contract with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday, citing sources.

Wiseman spent most of last season and several rotations with the Pistons after Golden State traded him to Detroit before the February 2023 trade deadline as part of a four-team swap that also included the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers.

In his rookie season with the Warriors, Wiseman averaged 11.5 points on 51.9 percent shooting from the field with 5.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.9 blocks in 39 games (27 starts) before suffering a torn meniscus in April and missing the remainder of the season. He underwent surgery to repair his knee but ultimately missed the entire 2021-22 season while rehabbing.

Golden State had high regard for the big man, having selected him in the first round of the 2020 draft. But injuries and inconsistent play prevented Wiseman from truly developing into a team whose patience eventually ran out.

The Warriors parted ways with the 7-foot-1 center midway through the 2022-23 season, and in 87 games with Detroit, Wiseman averaged 8.6 points on 57.6 percent shooting from the field with 6.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.7 blocks.

Detroit was the worst team in the NBA last season, winning just 14 games.

Not only is Indiana the fresh start Wiseman needs, but the team is also coming off a historic season that saw it reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

Could Wiseman help the Pacers take the next step and challenge Eastern Conference big dog and reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics? He and the Pacers certainly hope so.

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