The Golden State Warriors are riding high after a strong start to the 2025-26 season. Despite making few off-season moves, internal development has helped them get off to a strong start.
However, a blast from the past just made NBA news. Former Warriors second overall pick James Wiseman was recently released from the Indiana Pacers in favor of them signing Mac McClung.
The Pacers plan to waive center James Wiseman to create roster space for McClung, who will sign a non-guaranteed multiyear deal, sources said. Indiana is dealing with several key injuries to their guards and wings to start the season. https://t.co/eMRWVYfbXQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2025
That may result in the end of Wiseman's career. If that is the case, then Wiseman would undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory.
After all, the Warriors selected him with the hope that he would be the future of the franchise when Steph Curry inevitably retires. Obviously, things didn't work out quite that way. He appeared in just 39 games during his rookie season, and while he showed promise, an injury derailed his progress.
He later missed his entire sophomore season, and when he returned for his third season with the Warriors, he lasted just 21 games before being traded to the Detroit Pistons. In total, Wiseman played just 60 games for the Warriors in two and a half seasons.
The Golden State Warriors don't miss James Wiseman
Fortunately for the Warriors, they have rebounded nicely, continuing to build around Curry by trading for Jimmy Butler last trade deadline and adding Al Horford. Additionally, Jonathan Kuminga, despite his recent contract dispute, has shown dramatic improvement as a defensive player and passer.
That has helped turn him into a crucial player for the Warriors. Even so, the Warriors have been perpetually undersized since the end of the Wiseman era, with the gamble on him proving to be a massive failure.
Had they taken LaMelo Ball, they would have been far better off than wasting the second overall pick. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.
Ball would have been a terrific offensive weapon on the Warriors, but he may have tanked his chances of being drafted so he could end up with the Charlotte Hornets. Go figure.
As for Wiseman, he has already had two season-ending injuries and has only appeared in 149 games in his five-year career. Ouch. Worse yet, the Pacers were in need of frontcourt help and cut him to make way for a guard. That doesn't bode well for his career.
Still, another team might take a look at him on a 10-day contract if they become thin at center. Barring that, Wiseman's career might already be over.