James Wiseman was a smart gamble for the Detroit Pistons.
It needed to be said because media and fans alike have done plenty of joking and stressing about the move made at the deadline. And yes, I know the team drafted a center in the lottery last season. I also know they traded for a former lottery mistake a deadline ago who stands nearly seven feet tall. I even remember that Isaiah Stewart exists. But still, James Wiseman gets a thumbs up.
Given all of those facts that people seem to think Troy Weaver forgot when he swapped Saddiq Bey for the 2020 second-overall pick, the move for James Wiseman still makes sense. There is something to be found here and Weaver seems determined to be the one to find it. Even better, it fits their consistent goal. Even if people do not like the idea of playing two bigger bodies at the same time, Detroit does want this. For a team that did not have a stated goal for the better part of the last 15 years, seeing them build to that goal is relieving.
A rebuild gets easier when there is a plan in place. The plan was going to take a few drafts and trade cycles for Troy Weaver to get that in place in full. After tearing down the roster to the studs, keeping size with a variety of skill sets has been the archetype.
The Vision
For better or worse, Detroit has been adamant since Troy Weaver came to town that they wanted to employ a diverse set of big men. It started in 2020 when they selected Isaiah Stewart in the first round. They followed that up with free agent signings of Jahlil Okafor and Mason Plumlee. Then in 2021, the team brought in Luka Garza, Marvin Bagley, and Kelly Olynyk. Finally, 2022 saw the drafting of Jalen Duren and the trade for Nerlens Noel.
In case you did not notice, Weaver believes that it is possible to play multiple big men. Luka Garza and Kelly Olynyk were often tasked with being floor spacers while contributing very little on the defensive end. Marvin Bagley has found ways to be a play finisher, dipping into his bag, while at this point Duren has been mostly used as a rim runner. Nerlens Noel, who has played sparingly, is there for his defensive role as either a drop big or hedging and recovering. Wiseman would likely fit more into the drop role while Duren fits more into the latter. Stewart, meanwhile is a different animal overall: Isaiah has improved as a passer (his assists per game have doubled in February) while continuing to stretch the floor but can also bang in the paint. On defense he just bodies people, embodying the Bouncer role.
So far this season, per Cleaning The Glass, 18 different lineups have played for at least 50 possessions in the Motor City. The second most common configuration combined Stewart and Duren with Bojan Bogdanovic, Killian Hayes, and Jaden Ivey. Bagley replaces Duren for the third most common lineup.
Overall four of their top 12 lineups played two of their three bigs. This would have likely been more had Bagley not been limited to 25 games due to injury. Casey and Weaver seem aligned in wanting skilled size to anchor them. Stewart has developed nicely, teasing a 3-point shot. Duren is a freak of a 19-year-old who never looks like the youngest player in the league. Part of this is because they are playing with lottery guards who are looking to get them into positions to succeed. Cade Cunningham coming back next year will boost that even more.
Given this being the goal, it makes sense for Detroit to take a low-cost, high-reward swing on a talented big man. This would allow them to field a four-player platoon and play the same style even if they are in reserve-only lineups. Simplicity will be key in teaching all of these young players to play at an NBA level and this type of continuity fits that.
But why Wiseman?
We are not far removed from a time when Troy Weaver was likely conniving behind the scenes to trade up to select the top target in his first draft where he was at the helm. His per-36-minute numbers jump off the sheet: 19.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 assists. Sure he has only exceeded 30 minutes in a game twice in his short career, but that is part of this too.
If Wiseman starts the rest of the season and gets normal starter minutes (the current rumor), he would log almost three-quarters of his entire time spent in the Warriors lineup. Raw is the understatement of the year. Detroit has grown accustomed to taking chances of change-of-scenery candidates since the commitment to losing and rebuilding was clear. Wiseman is the biggest swing, but he could be exactly what they needed.
Given the chance to be a better Marvin Bagley III is both a doable goal and a reasonable request. Wiseman could be the lob threat that Killian Hayes has dreamed about since being drafted. More than half of Wiseman’s shots this season have come within five feet of the basket. More than 80 percent of his baskets have been assisted.
His growth gives him a chance to pair with Hayes and Jaden Ivey this year, as well as Cunningham (and maybe Scoot Henderson?) next year. There is no pressure here. Detroit is going to lose most of the rest of its games. Wiseman does not have to worry about the hook coming for him here.
The Fit
For anyone worried about what this means for Jalen Duren, they are missing the point. Duren and Stewart have paired well together and will likely be played together plenty. Wiseman, if he starts, will get to pair with Stewart and/or Bogdanovic. This will give him space to work with. From here, Detroit should essentially hitch Wiseman’s minutes to Bojan. If the pair comes out, in comes Duren and either Hamidou Diallo, Alec Burks, or Isaiah Livers.
This does not necessarily have to cut into Duren’s minutes. While it is unlikely Wiseman and Duren share the floor much (unless Wiseman starts drifting out to shoot more often), there is plenty of minutes opened up by the departure of Saddiq Bey. Bey slotted in as a power forward in two of the top seven most-used lineups this season. This can easily be turned into pairings with either Bagley or Stewart alongside Duren or Wiseman. Focusing on developing both of these young bigs should not be a problem.
Giving Wiseman ample time with Hayes and Bogdanovic will give him space to work with and smart passers to enable him. When he is on the floor with Stewart, he will have help on both sides of the floor down low. Hayes will likely be the best point-of-attack defender he has played with yet.
That being said, the defense will be bad. The losses will pile up. That too is okay. Detroit is not bringing James Wiseman in expecting him to turn them into a contender tomorrow. He is perfect to grow with them, not for them. That is a distinction that he has never been able to appreciate.
Am I being too optimistic? Most Pistons fans would be screaming yes. They are tired of seeing centers and Ls. However, I appreciate that at long last we have a leadership group committed to a vision and taking chances. James Wiseman is a chance worth taking that fits the vision.
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