As the offseason quickly approaches, the NBA rumor mill is already beginning to swirl. With a pair of first-round picks in 2021, the 2020 No. 2 overall pick and a roster that features proven veterans like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors will likely be in the middle of all the chatter.
Despite general manager Bob Myers saying the team doesn’t want to move James Wiseman, the Warriors could be shopping the 20-year-old after one season in the Bay Area. According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, there’s a “widespread expectation” that the Warriors will package the No. 7 pick and Wiseman to upgrade their roster via trade.
Via @TheAthletic on Twitter:
There is a widespread expectation that the Warriors will use the No. 7 pick and James Wiseman to immediately upgrade the roster, @johnhollinger writes.
One name to watch: Pascal Siakam.
More: https://t.co/nn68CLMvCi pic.twitter.com/FPjeLkGKin
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 28, 2021
After being selected by the Warriors out of Memphis with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Wiseman averaged 11.5 points on 51.9% shooting from the floor with 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 21.4 minutes per contest. Wiseman’s rookie season came to an early end after only 39 games when the center suffered a season-ending meniscus injury.
The player the Warriors could be eyeing in a deal that includes is Wiseman is Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, per Hollinger. The former All-Star averaged 21.4 points on 45.5% shooting from the field with 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per contest during the 2020-21 campaign. Siakam is currently recovering from a shoulder injury that could keep him out for the start of the 2021-22 season.
Before the Warriors hit the clock on draft day, Myers, Kerr and the rest of Golden State’s staff will likely continue assessing all their options before making the pick, including a potential blockbuster trade.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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