While Stephen Curry continues to defy Father Time, a ghost from the Golden State Warriors’ past has resurfaced as a painful reminder of a golden opportunity squandered. The waiver of James Wiseman—the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft—by the Indiana Pacers to make room for Mac McClung potentially marks the end of his NBA journey. This event is not just a personal tragedy for Wiseman; it stands as the starkest evidence of the most costly misstep of the Curry era.
In 2020, an injury-riddled season gifted the Warriors the No. 2 pick in the draft. It was seen as a fateful boon, a chance to add a franchise cornerstone for the future alongside Stephen Curry. Instead of selecting a sure foundation, the Warriors “swung for the fences” on James Wiseman, a physically gifted center with just three college games under his belt.
Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman
The Trajectory of a Draft Bust
The expectation was for Wiseman to become an athletic, mobile running mate for Curry. The reality was a different story entirely:
Disappointment in Golden State: Over two and a half seasons, he played only 60 games, averaging 9.9 points and 5 rebounds, constantly battling injuries and a lack of fit within the system.
Journeyman and the End of the Road: Traded to the Detroit Pistons, he failed to make a name for himself even on a struggling team. A fateful Achilles tear in his season opener for the Indiana Pacers was the final blow. Being waived for Mac McClung—a G League standout—is a bitterly ironic conclusion for a former second pick.
The “What If” Question That Haunts Golden State
Wiseman’s failure stings even more when revisiting the talents the Warriors passed on immediately after him in that draft:
LaMelo Ball (Pick 3): An All-Star franchise player for the Charlotte Hornets.
Tyrese Haliburton (Pick 12): An All-Star, elite floor general.
Tyrese Maxey (Pick 21): An All-Star, budding star for Philadelphia.
Even selections later in the first round, like Desmond Bane or Devin Vassell, have become core pieces for their teams. Instead of securing a franchise cornerstone, the Warriors ended up with a bust.
James Wiseman’s waiver is a sad, almost foretold ending. But for the Golden State Warriors, it is an expensive lesson in the difficulties of team-building through the draft, even with a high pick. The 2020 mistake caused the Warriors to waste a golden opportunity to seamlessly extend or transition beyond the Curry era. As Curry continues to pull the wagon forward, the ghost of this draft past serves as a constant reminder of the price of a swing and a miss.