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The 2020 NBA Draft is just over a week away, but even with the big night just around the corner, it’s still unclear how things will turn out. There’s no consensus No.1, and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors – first and second in the draft respectively – are open to trading their picks.
That being said, we are not totally in the dark. The latest information indicates that Memphis big man James Wiseman is rising on the draft boards and could go No.1 overall no matter who ends up making the choice. The Charlotte Hornets are apparently one of the teams after him, according to Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman:
Several sources told Bleacher Report that the name they keep hearing for the Timberwolves is James Wiseman. “Some in the Golden State Warriors believe Wiseman is going to No. 1 whether Minnesota has the choice or not,” a source connected to the conversation said.
It’s an intriguing development given the obvious questions about whether Wiseman and Karl-Anthony Towns can play together.
However, sources also claim that the Charlotte Hornets “want a lot of Wiseman,” a plausible belief given the team’s established backcourt and need for a big man.
Standard recognition that, as always, we have to walk lightly with these pre-draft rumors. We never know who is disclosing them, or for what purpose, so while they are interesting to consider, they should not be treated as gospel.
Wiseman has always been screened to be a top pick in this draft and has been broadly grouped into the top three prospects along with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. Last month, a report said his combination of size, athleticism and defensive skills made him one of the “safest” players in the class.
The fact that he hasn’t gotten much buzz before for being the first pick is more down to the poor fit with Minnesota than his potential. The Timberwolves already have Karl-Anthony Towns, and Wiseman wouldn’t be interested in playing there. “Wiseman doesn’t even want to do anything” with Wolves, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said in a recent podcast.
The Hornets, meanwhile, are thin in the frontcourt, and Wiseman makes a lot more sense there. They currently have the No.3 pick overall, but if they’re really stuck on Wiseman, it might be worth upgrading to No.1 to make sure they have it. At the very least, that’s a possibility to keep in mind if we start to hear more whispers about the Hornets’ interest in Wiseman.
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