With the 2020 NBA draft just under two weeks away, one prospect is becoming increasingly popular in mock predictions for the Golden State Warriors’ top pick.
During the final stages of draft season, Memphis big man James Wiseman continues to appear alongside the Warriors with the No. 2 overall selection on Nov. 18.
In the latest mock draft from USA TODAY’s Scott Gleeson, Jeff Zillgitt and Mark Medina, the Warriors land the former McDonald’s All-American with the second pick in the draft.
According to Gleeson, Zillgitt and Medina, Wiseman is an “ideal fit” for a roster that has Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Via USA TODAY:
Wiseman only got to provide a small sample size of his ability as an athletic big man with All-Star potential, as he left Memphis early in the season halfway through an NCAA suspension. But scouts know Wiseman can be a 20-and-10 big man if he’s given the right opportunity to blossom. He’ll be an ideal fit on a guard-savvy Warriors roster looking to rebound in 2020-21.
During his three-game stint at Memphis, Wiseman recorded a double-double in each contest. Over his time with Penny Hardaway’s Memphis squad, the former Gatorade National High School Player of the Year averaged 19.7 points on 76.9% shooting from the field with 10.7 rebounds and three blocks per contest.
At a recent workout with the Warriors on the east coast, Wiseman looked like a “beast,” according to a report from Marcus Thompson III of The Athletic.
Although Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney have had impressive moments during their time with the Golden State Warriors, Wiseman would give the Warriors a dynamic they haven’t had during the Stephen Curry era.
At 7-foot-1, Wiseman can run the floor with the athletic ability to jump out of the gym. While he continues to develop his stable jumper, the 19-year-old would give Golden State an immediate highlight-reel lob threat on offense and rim protector on defense.
If Steve Kerr and Bob Myers don’t trade the pick for an established veteran, Wiseman should be on a shortlist of candidates for the No. 2 overall selection.
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