11 Wildcard trade candidates ahead of the deadline
By Cal Durrett
NBA Trade Candidate: James Wiseman
Despite having his name come up in multiple trade rumors this season, former second-overall pick James Wiseman may end up staying put at the deadline. Especially after the Spurs turned down a trade in which he was the centerpiece.
Having one of the worst teams in the league turn down a chance at landing Wiseman probably isn’t a great sign of his value at the moment. Neither is the fact that halfway through his third season in the NBA, he has yet to fully crack the Warriors’ rotation. While there’s still time for that to happen, odds are that it won’t, and if it doesn’t, then the Warriors could be stuck with him and his $10 million contract next season.
When factoring in Golden State’s unprecedented luxury tax situation, that should put some pressure on the team to trade him now. After all, what little intrigue other teams have in his potential could soon dissipate completely, and he would become a negative asset. Perhaps the Warriors are saying the right things about how they view him but are still looking to upgrade their roster ahead of the deadline.
If this is the case, his contract will be crucial for salary-matching purposes. Think that’s selling low on Wiseman? The Washington Wizards just recently sent Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers for three second-round picks. Hachimura was taken just seven spots behind Wiseman in the 2020 NBA draft, and he’s shown more than Wiseman has at this point.
Golden State, as a whole, hasn’t played well enough to stand pat at the trade deadline. Additionally, they’ll have to decide whether to include Wiseman in potential deals to upgrade their roster.