The Indiana Pacers can’t stop collecting lottery picks from 2020. They lost one when Jalen Smith declined his player option and left for the Bulls but they gained a new one by agreeing to a 2-year deal with James Wiseman, the former number two overall pick in the same draft as Tyrese Haliburton (12th), Obi Toppin (8th), and Aaron Nesmith (14th).
SI’s Tony East reports that Wiseman’s contract is partially guaranteed in the first season and has a team option for the second. It is a veteran minimum deal. Wiseman likely slots in as the third center for the Pacers with a chance at earning minutes over Isaiah Jackson, who should be the frontrunner for the backup center role after a solid showing through the Pacers playoff run.
Wiseman, who was drafted by the Golden State Warriors and previously played for the Detroit Pistons, averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17 minutes per game last season while shooting 61.7% from the floor. He’s the first new addition to the team after the Pacers retained both Pascal Siakam and Toppin.
Wiseman is still just 23 years old and we’ll see if the Pacers can turn yet another 2020 lottery pick cast-off into something valuable for themselves. Toppin got traded for just two future second-round picks that are likely to be late in the round and turned into one of the best bench players in the league with elite efficiency in the Pacers offensive system that suits him perfectly. Aaron Nesmith was compared to a paper clip when the Pacers acquired him and a first-round pick in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and now he’s a starter on a conference finals team and the Pacers most reliable perimeter defender. Each of these players earned second contracts from the Pacers and Jalen Smith got a decent sized deal from the Bulls after the Suns declined his third year option on his rookie deal.
Wiseman is a rim running big that loves to roll and is a lob threat like Jackson. He did not take a single 3-pointer for the Pistons last season.
The Pacers now sit at 13 players currently under contract and have two remaining spots that could be filled by two of their three second-round picks. They could also keep one spot open by adding Johnny Furphy to the active roster and use two of their 2-way contracts on Tristen Newton and Enrique Freeman. Quenton Jackson and Oscar Tshiebwe also will be fighting for a roster spot or 2-way contract.
iPacers - Indiana Pacers News 