Account
Report: James Wiseman Traded from Warriors to Pistons; Hawks Get Saddiq Bey for Picks
February 9, 2023
The Golden State Warriors have sent center James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Warriors were set to acquire Saddiq Bey but will instead deal him to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for five second-round draft picks, per Wojnarowski, who later added Kevin Knox is headed to Golden State and then being rerouted to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the deal.
Gary Payton II will, in turn, return to the Warriors in exchange for five second-round picks, per Wojnarowski.
Bey has been in and out of the starting lineup for Detroit this season, but he's averaging 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.
Last season, Bey averaged 16.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, leading the Pistons with 4.0 win shares, per Basketball Reference.
Despite his production, the Pistons entered Thursday last in the Eastern Conference with a 14-42 record. With the 23-year-old eligible for an extension this offseason and potentially becoming a free agent in 2024, he might not be on the same timeline as other young Pistons players like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
Bey will instead try to be an immediate contributor with the Hawks, a team that entered Thursday eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 27-28 record. This trade could give the Atlanta a proven player who could make a significant impact either in the starting lineup or off the bench.
Meanwhile, Golden State deals Wiseman in a move that admits its mistake from the 2020 draft. The center was selected No. 2 overall, one spot ahead of LaMelo Ball (and 17 spots ahead of Bey).
Wiseman has struggled to stay healthy, missing last season while recovering from a knee injury suffered as a rookie. Wiseman has only made 60 appearances across three NBA seasons.
The 7-footer has shown upside on both ends of the court, averaging 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in his career, but he was unlikely to help the Warriors contend this season.
Detroit adds someone who was a highly touted prospect to help fill out its young core.