2020 NBA draft profile: Memphis center James Wiseman

Overall outlook for James Wiseman

While James Wiseman’s talent is undeniable, his lack of refinement brings very real questions to potential suitors in this year’s draft.

The obvious comparisons for the enigmatic big man are Hassan Whiteside and Andre Drummond. Both similarly huge, athletic centers found early success in the NBA almost exclusively by virtue of their physical gifts. And then they never fully developed their games, leading to much derision from fans across the league.

Wiseman looks to buck that trend this year.

His natural tools make him a low-floor type prospect. He will provide value as a roll man and, to some degree, as a shot blocker. His ceiling is comparatively high for the same reasons. That type of prospect is obviously appealing in a draft full of question marks.

Where exactly he lands in that large range of outcomes depends entirely on how well he is able to harness his physical advantages into value on the court. If he can develop around the fringes to maximize his length and athleticism, he could be a true cornerstone for a franchise. If the development is slow, he may just be a league-average big man.

In large part, Wiseman’s future success depends on where he ends up. If he lands at a franchise with good player development, he has every chance to be the best player in this year’s draft.