5. James Wiseman
Rumors of teams eyeing Markkanen and Carter are interesting. Neither has lived up to their billing but they aren’t busts, either. At least not yet. Health has played a big factor as has the situation around them. But the absence of either would create the perfect void for 7-foot-1 James Wiseman to step into.
The former Memphis Tiger (more on that in a bit) combines that height with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and the athleticism bigs need to stay on the floor in today’s NBA. It was all on display in his brief collegiate career.
Just got around to watching James Wiseman's debut from opening night against South Carolina State. Good god, have mercy, what he did to those poor kids is illegal in approximately 17 states. If he plays with this kind of intensity all year, its a wrap. pic.twitter.com/PQIraNlX64
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) November 8, 2019
Wiseman managed to average 19.7 points and 10.7 boards while converting 76.9 percent of his looks from the floor and 70.4 from the charity stripe. Oh, he also averaged 3.0 blocks and fewer than two fouls per contest so he defends without giving the other team easy points and taking himself off the floor.
Foul trouble is something Carter has found himself in far too often. If Cowley’s reporting comes to fruition then we could see Wiseman being a souped-up Carter or allowing Carter to shift to his preferred position at power forward.
Now, about his time at Memphis. Wiseman was suspended by the NCAA for accepting impermissible benefits in the form of more than $11,000 in moving and living assistance from Memphis head coach, Penny Hardaway (before he was even hired). After fighting to stay on the court and playing two extra games (for a total of three), Wiseman dropped the appeal, accepted the punishment, and began training in Miami for the NBA draft.
Wiseman insists he had no knowledge of the wrongdoing and described the mental anguish the ordeal put him through. That doesn’t allay fears that his walking away from Memphis is an omen. There are also questions about his motivation on the court.
"“The concern is that there’s a little Deandre Ayton in Wiseman. At certain times in games, neither looks engaged. That always leads scouts to question competitiveness. There are also moments that don’t scream toughness, but being so dominant at the high school level sometimes leads to passiveness.” – vis Joe Cowley/Chicago Sun-Times"
None of those “fears” are keeping Wiseman from being a top pick. He has been most linked to the Golden State Warriors, but you can find articles pondering his fit with almost every team.
We probably don’t see this pick without a corresponding trade of the other two prominent bigs, but that is the least of the hurdles the Bulls face if they want to target Wiseman. They’d have to hope others are more concerned than they are about those red flags if they remain at their projected draft slot; good ol’ number seven.
Speculation is the name of the game on this end. Smoke and mirrors could be the strategy for Karnisovas. But, judging from the group of players we’ve gotten reports they’re linked to, playmaking (Avdija, Hayes, and Bolmaro) is heavy on the mind of the Bulls new frontman. Scruggs provides athleticism they don’t have to move up for and Wiseman is the pie-in-the-sky option (behind LaMelo Ball). Any of these players would help, but Wiseman could change the franchise’s fortune of the last 30 years.