Detroit Pistons shouldn’t shy away from James Wiseman

The Defensive Potential

As previously acknowledged, James Wiseman has the physical attributes to be one of the best defensive centers in the NBA. That can be said of many prospects coming out of the collegiate ranks, but few utilize them quite as well as Wiseman.

Between his high school and college film, one can see a player who’s not only physically overwhelming, but quick to his spots on defense.

Wiseman showed flashes of his elite defensive potential at Memphis, blocking nine shots and pulling down 19 defensive rebounds in just 69 minutes of play. That translated to admittedly meaningless, but still impressive per 40 averages of 11.0 defensive rebounds and 5.2 blocks.

There’s no guaranteeing that those numbers would’ve even translated to a longer NCAA season, but they’re illustrations of what most believe: He can dominate the interior.

Operating in space is the big concern with Wiseman on defense, as his footwork needs polish. The physical capability is there, however, and the former No. 1 overall high school recruit could be turned into a more versatile defender with coaching and patience.

For what it’s worth: Wiseman averaged 6.7 defensive rebounds and 2.2 blocks per 40 minutes at the 2017 FIBA U16 Americas Championship.

There are obvious reasons to be skeptical about Wiseman after just three collegiate games, but if he becomes the Detroit Pistons’ Mitchell Robinson, he’d be a project worth believing in.