James Wiseman

Wiseman -- the second overall pick from 2020 -- appeared in just 39 games as a rookie in 2020-21 due to COVID protocols and a wrist injury. In mid-April of that season, he suffered a torn meniscus. His timeline kept getting pushed back further and further, and he had to undergo a second cleanup surgery in January of last season. He eventually saw some action in the G League but suffered a setback in March, which ended his season before he ever got a chance to see NBA minutes. All signs indicate Wiseman is ready to step back on the court this year, mainly since he played in four Summer League games, averaging 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 assists in 19.9 minutes. Those numbers are underwhelming given his pedigree, but the long layoff has to be considered. Wiseman will presumably come off the bench behind Kevon Looney to start the season, and he'll also have to compete with Draymond Green, who sees plenty of action at the five. Wiseman should, in theory, be able to steal minutes from Looney, but the veteran has the trust of coach Steve Kerr. It's hard to dissuade fantasy managers from gambling on Wiseman at the end of standard league drafts, but patience will be key. As it stands, he's more intriguing in dynasty/keeper leagues as a buy low.

The second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Wiseman's rookie season was somewhat of a disappointment. He appeared in just 39 games (27 starts) due to multiple injuries and COVID-19 protocols, and he tore his meniscus in mid-April. The center saw 21.4 minutes per game and averaged 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and a combined 1.2 blocks-plus-steals. He shot a solid 51.9 percent from the field and showed off some ability to stretch the floor by going 12-of-38 (31.6%) from deep. While the overall numbers are underwhelming, it's important to remember the context of Wiseman's rookie season. He played just three collegiate games, didn't get a Summer League and missed much of training camp due to what is presumed to be an absence due to contracting COVID-19. Wiseman's offensive repertoire also doesn't mesh well alongside Draymond Green, who isn't a floor-spacer and spends much of his time at center. The Warriors also boast a great, but complicated system that isn't easy to integrate into, especially for a 19-year-old basically playing his first competitive basketball since his senior year of high school. The reasons to believe in Wiseman's potential are still there -- mainly, the elite athleticism that will lead to easy lob dunks and sets him up for good block numbers. Bigger questions remain about his shooting ability and potential to post up, but those are skills Wiseman has plenty of time to develop as a now-20-year-old. The fit with the Warriors is still subpar, but his pedigree makes him worthy of consideration with the final pick in a standard fantasy draft.

Wiseman is a great athlete at the center position, and he stands at 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan. During his three collegiate appearances at Memphis, he averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 23.0 minutes. Aside from his defense and rebounding, Wiseman's initial role on the Warriors will likely be that of a screen-and-roller who can finish around the basket with good touch and throw down lob dunks. He also has the upside to develop into a post-up option and maybe a mid-range jump-shooter. As a rookie for Golden State, Wiseman will be reportedly fighting for the starting center job, but he should see minutes in the mid-to-upper-20s regardless of outcome. For fantasy purposes, he should be a good source of rebounding, blocks and field-goal percentage, assuming he keeps his shot selection clean.