How Detroit Pistons' James Wiseman is making the most of newfound playing time

Late in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, James Wiseman found himself at the top of the key, defending Trae Young in an isolation situation.

The 22-year-old center did as well as one could hope against the superstar guard, who is among the best in the NBA at baiting opposing players into fouling. Wiseman’s feet remained planted, and he used his long wingspan to keep his distance while staying in position to disrupt the shot. Young’s 3-point attempt fell well short of the rim.

Detroit Pistons coach Monty Williams likes to switch all picks defensively when Isaiah Stewart or Jalen Duren are on the floor. But with both big men injured, Wiseman stepped up and was able to bother Young on a handful of possessions.

That’s not to say Williams will continue having Wiseman switch onto the NBA’s best ball-handlers. But Wiseman, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, continued to show growth in a time the team’s lack of depth at center has thrusted him back into the rotation.

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“I didn’t know he was gonna be like that in that environment,” Williams said after the team held practice at their New Center practice facility on Wednesday. “I was hesitant to go 1-5 with him because I didn’t know what he would do. He showed great poise, almost to the point where I thought it messed Trae up. One or two times he did mess him up the other day. His arms are so long that he was able to get his stick hand up. I thought it was a lot of growth, because earlier in the year he would’ve gone for the pump fake, or he would’ve gone for the hesi and been out of position.”

Wiseman is in the midst of his best stretch of basketball as a Piston. After only appearing in 10 of Detroit’s first 20 games, he is now getting consistent playing time with all the other injuries.

He has reached double-figures in scoring in his last four games, including a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double in Philadelphia last Friday, and 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in Milwaukee a day later.

“He’s just works,” Williams said after Saturday’s loss in Milwaukee. “He’s getting better every time he steps on the floor. We’ve had conversations about him just going out there and playing hard, being a bit smarter with the fouls. I want him to go out there and hoop. If he works on it in practice, pre-practice, post-practice, he should do it in the game. We want him to continue to grow.”

Wiseman arrived in Detroit at the February trade deadline in a multi-team trade that sent the Pistons’ 19th pick of the 2020 draft, Saddiq Bey, to the Hawks. The big man had a featured role as a starter at the end of last season, after the Pistons shut down the majority of their main contributors in the rotation. This season, he’s had to wait his turn.

Detroit’s depth at center pushed Wiseman out of the rotation. Duren and Stewart were the starting frontcourt, and Marvin Bagley III edged out Wiseman as the third big man in the rotation. Wiseman is Detroit’s tallest player at 7-feet tall, and is among the rawest on the roster. General manager Troy Weaver gambled on his upside after Wiseman failed to play meaningful minutes in nearly three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, the team that drafted him.

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Wiseman failed to match the consistency and/or defensive upside of the three players in front of him. But ankle soreness has held Duren out of the Pistons’ last six games, and Bagley and Stewart have also missed time in that stretch. As a result, Wiseman has played at least 25 minutes in the last three games.

He has been sharper overall, both as a defender and screen-setter. He was Detroit’s best available matchup in consecutive games against reigning MVP Joel Embiid last week, and has been more decisive both as a roller and finisher.

Williams was pleasantly surprised by how he handled himself against Young on Monday. There’s still room for growth, but he’s giving his head coach more confidence in him at a time they’ve had no choice but to lean on him.

“It does give you a little bit of confidence that when he’s in those situations, he’s not too far out of water,” Williams said. “But typically we only (switch) with Stewy and JD. So now, maybe going forward, we have a little bit of flexibility to, not on everybody. Putting him on Trae Young and Damian Lillard, that’s a lot for anybody. But some of these bigger guards that aren’t as fast, maybe some of his length can cover up their quickness at the rim.

“Wise has been a guy that’s grown, because he shows his wingspan, he tries to cover the ball,” he said. “You’re talking about a kid who hasn’t played 100 games yet and is still learning.”

Pistons hope to get injured players back soon

Stewart missed his second-consecutive game on Monday with a left shoulder sprain, and Killian Hayes was also a late scratch due to illness. Stewart appears to be the closest to returning in time for Thursday’s home game against the Utah Jazz (10-17), the easiest opponent on Detroit’s schedule through the rest of December.

Duren also appears to be inching back. The Pistons have missed the 20-year-old as they try to snap a franchise-worst 24-game losing streak.

“Stewy practiced today,” Williams said on Wednesday. “Killian, he’s still a little bit under the weather. JD is just starting to do a little bit on the court. We’re hoping to ramp him up sometime soon.”

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Detroit Pistons' James Wiseman is making most of new playing time