What does prospect James Wiseman leaving Memphis mean for Warriors?

Freshman star, James Wiseman— who’s been widely linked to the Golden State Warriors, announced he’s leaving Memphis to focus on the NBA draft. What does that mean for Golden State, who will likely have a top-pick in June’s NBA draft?

When you start to discuss the 2020 NBA draft, there’s a strong chance the name James Wiseman is quickly mentioned. The freshman phenom is noted as one of the best players available in the 2020 prospect pool, a 7-footer with a smooth jumper, paired with a 7-foot-6 wingspan at only 18-years old, its easy to tell why. However, his days playing college basketball in Memphis are officially over.

The one-time Tiger took to Instagram to announce he would withdraw from Memphis and sign with an agent to focus solely on the NBA draft. His decision comes during an up-and-down freshman season in Memphis, that only lasted three games.

Wiseman was ruled ineligible by the NCAA in early November after his family allegedly received improper benefits when Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway loaned Wiseman’s mother money when moving.

The NCAA later suspended Wiseman for 11-games, allowing him to return January 12, when Memphis plays Central Florida, but now the Tigers will be without their McDonald’s All-American going forward.

View this post on Instagram

Today I formally withdrew from the University of Memphis and I will be preparing for the next chapter of my life. Ever since I was a little kid, it’s been a dream of mine to play in the NBA. Throughout this process, I’ve asked God to ordain my steps and lead me in the right direction. God is my lord and salvation, and throughout this process he has comforted me. This was not how I expected my freshman season to be, but I’m thankful for everyone who has supported my family and me throughout this process. I want to thank the coaches and staff for all their support and my teammates for pushing me everyday at practice. I feel blessed for the opportunity to be a Tiger and for having the honor to play with these special group of guys. I can’t wait to see what all they accomplish this season. The friends and fans of Tiger Nation will always hold a place in my heart. #GoTigersGo 🐯🔵🐯

A post shared by James Wiseman (@bigticket_j13) on

The benefit to the Warriors lowly season is they’ll be awarded a high draft pick in 2020, giving them a chance to bring a player of Wiseman’s ilk to Golden State. Although Wiseman’s college basketball career is over, he’s still projected to be a top draft pick when the 2020 NBA draft rolls around. Wiseman’s size and ability make him a prime candidate to land in Golden State with their high pick.

The issue with Wiseman’s decision to walk away from Memphis cuts his college film down to only three games. Wiseman impressed in his three college games, averaging 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks, but is that enough to be picked in the top-five?

It’s obvious Wiseman has enough talent to earn the label of a high-lottery pick, but instead of live-action, most of the former Memphis Tiger’s evaluation will be based on projection and high school film.

Wiseman’s situation is comparable to Kyrie Irving’s time at Duke. Irving, a top recruit, only played 11 games in college due to injury but was still selected first overall in 2011.

If the Warriors championship core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green return healthy, Golden State could be back inline to contend as soon as 2021. With little film on Wiseman, it could take time to develop his pro-game while the Warriors could be looking for a player that will make an impact on day one.

With Wiseman off the college basketball radar, prospects like Georgia’s Anthony Edwards and Washington’s Jaden McDaniels come more into focus. Expect the Warriors to keep tabs on Wiseman still, but with others like Edwards and McDaniels in the limelight weekly, their names could rise up the draft board based on exposure alone.

Wiseman’s decision to step away from Memphis has officially tipped off the start of “draft season.”