If Shams Charania of ESPN doesn’t tweet out a signing during free agency, many would consider it to be unimportant news. That was the case with the Indiana Pacers. The team announced that they were bringing back center James Wiseman. Still just 24 years old, his stock has dropped precipitously since being taken second overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. On a Pacers team devoid of starting center options though, the opportunity may be there for James Wiseman to play a large role.
Former Top Draft Pick Rejoins Pacers With Pathway To Minutes
Hasn’t Lived Up To Draft Standing
For the first four years after being drafted, Wiseman had only appeared in 147 games. Expectations of him being a dominant low-post threat surrounded by elite shooters in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were quickly disposed of. The seven-footer had more than twice as many turnovers than assists in his rookie year. He missed the entire season the following year (2021-22) due to a torn meniscus. In his third year, Golden State decided it was time to move on. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons in February of 2023.
Wiseman played 63 games for the Pistons in 2023-24, easily a career-high. Last offseason, Indiana signed him to a low-risk deal, hoping that the Memphis product could find that unrealized potential that most believed he had prior to being drafted.
Unfortunately for both Wiseman and the Pacers, his time on the court for the team proved to be very short-lived. In their season opener, he suffered a non-contact injury (torn Achilles) after just five minutes of action. It sidelined him for the rest of the season. Wiseman was traded to the Toronto Raptors in February, who waived him a couple days later.
James Wiseman Rejoins Pacers Team Without Clear Starting Center Option
Now it’s unclear if Wiseman will be cleared to return to the court by the beginning of the 2025-26 season. If he is, or when he is, the opportunity is certainly there for him to garner minutes at the five position for Indiana. Of course, the team lost starting center Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks, ending their 10-year partnership.
The Pacers don’t roster an obvious starting center at the moment. The team picked up their option on Tony Bradley worth $2.94 million for 2025-26. There will be no penalty if they decide to release him before the season though. Reserve big man Thomas Bryant remains an unrestricted free agent.
Indiana did trade for Jay Huff. They acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a second round pick and a second round pick swap. The 26-year-old had his most productive season with averages of 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and nearly a block in 2024-25. He doesn’t seem like a viable starting center though, and the two starts he made last season were the first two of his career.
Losing Turner put Indiana in a tough spot when it comes to who will man the middle in his place. A healthy James Wiseman could show head coach Rick Carlisle enough to make him the best option as the team’s starting center, if the Pacers don’t make another move.
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