Soaring Down South
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NBA Mock Draft 4.0 — Warriors Take Wiseman First, Hawks grab LaMelo

By Dallin Duffy

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 25: Lamelo Ball of the Hawks celebrates hitting a three point shot late in the final quarter during the round 8 NBL match between the Illawarra Hawks and the Cairns Taipans at WIN Entertainment Centre on November 25, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 25: Lamelo Ball of the Hawks celebrates hitting a three point shot late in the final quarter during the round 8 NBL match between the Illawarra Hawks and the Cairns Taipans at WIN Entertainment Centre on November 25, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) /
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NBA Mock Draft
MEMPHIS, TN – NOVEMBER 5: James Wiseman #32of the Memphis Tigers against the South Carolina State Bulldogs during a game on November 5, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis defeated South Carolina State 97-64. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /

Golden State Warriors. James Wiseman. player. 41. Prospect Profile. Pick Analysis. C, Memphis. 1

There are many questions surrounding James Wiseman and the fact that the 2020 draft will be just a few weeks before his one year anniversary of leaving Memphis early only adds to that list.

Wiseman was the near-consensus top pick in preseason mocks, but it seems now he doesn’t have a shot of going first unless the Warriors win the lottery. There are conflicting reports on whether or not the Dubs are interested in the 7-footer, but it’s no secret the Warriors need a center.

With Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green all set to come back healthy next season, Golden State should be in the playoffs once again, and a true center could bump them right back to being top-tier title contenders.

Other candidates to go first like LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Deni Advija wouldn’t be in line for much playtime in Golden State unless another one of their stars gets injured again. Wiseman, meanwhile, could come in and be their starting five from day one.

In high school and his short stint in college, Wiseman proved to be a dominant defensive center, blocking nine shots across his only three games with the Memphis Tigers. As a senior in high school, he averaged 14.8 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game en route to winning Gatorade’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

In the NBA, Wiseman will have to overcome a few barriers to become a true contributor on offense but should be able to come in and be a dominant rebounder and rim-protector instantly. There are more sure-things on the board, but the Warriors draft for need here.