The 30 most painful NBA Draft pass-ups since 2000

NBA Draft Mistake #21: Golden State drafting James Wiseman over LaMelo Ball.

Despite happening just three years ago, Golden State’s decision to draft James Wiseman second in the 2020 NBA Draft makes the cut. After finishing with only 20 wins, the Warriors were hoping to get a future franchise player that could bridge the gap between eras. Unfortunately, Wiseman wasn’t the player to help Golden State accomplish that. He struggled through his rookie season until it was cut short thanks to a knee injury.

That knee would cost him his entire sophomore season too, and it would put him at a disadvantage entering this season. While he did improve some, his development was much slower than the Warriors wanted. They faced the prospect of paying him $10 million next season in addition to having to pay at least double that amount in luxury tax. As a result, they opted to trade him in a four-team deal for Gary Payton II and two second-round picks.

That return on investment likely wasn’t what Golden State had in mind when they picked him second. And, considering that there were rumors that the Warriors were interested in LaMelo Ball, who was picked third by the Hornets, it’s clear that they made a mistake in not selecting him instead.