I’m not too high on young James these days, but it’s a bit too early to write him off, I think. Dude is 21, has played in 50 total NBA games, and has been deprived a normal age 19-21 development phase by a college recruitment violation, covid, and a torn meniscus.
I know it’s a game thread, but we’re talking about like a two-minute sample of “soooooo bad” play, coming off the bench cold, in garbage time, after a few consecutive games of DNP-CDs. He hasn’t been that bad overall this season for a kid still figuring stuff out: (per 36) 18.4 points on .614 ts, 10.3 reb, 2.7 ast. He actually looked better last night after those first couple of rough minutes. The scoreboard has generally swung massively in the wrong direction with him on the floor, but that’s not all on him. And bad plus-minus isn’t always that predictive in guys that young.
Bagley is probably a pretty good comp (because handedness and #2 pick, among other things) though Wise is (1) a lot bigger and stronger than Bagley; and (2) more anecdotally/subjectively, a harder-working kid with a better head on his shoulders. I do question his feel for the game … but then I questioned Andrew Wiggins’ feel for the game, all the way up till his age 26 season, when was an all-star giving Luka and Tatum a rough time in the heat of playoff battle. Young players develop at different rates.
I’d still happily take a flier on him if I were a team like the Spurs with nothing else going on. I’m just not sure his timeline and game aligns very well with the late-dynasty Warriors, who clearly don’t want to repeat the missteps of ‘20-21, and have always had issues fitting true centers into their style of play. A mid-season trade for more vet depth would not totally shock me. Could be a win-win for the Warriors, his new team, and Wise, who would get to spread his wings, get real minutes, and learn from his mistakes outside of the Chase Center spotlight.
Anyway, outside of the rough couple minutes for Wiseman, a great night for the champs, with Poole incandescent, Moody and Kuminga both killing it, and University of Vermont’s own Anthony Lamb looking like this year’s GP2-meets-Otto Porter.