NBA Rumors: James Wiseman’s $15.9M Pistons Qualifying Offer Declined, Will Be UFA

James Wiseman is going to be an unrestricted free agent after the Detroit Pistons declined to extend him a qualifying offer.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported the Pistons decided against extending a $15.8 million one-year tender to the 23-year-old center.

Wiseman was able to carve out a niche with the Pistons after being acquired from the Golden State Warriors in February 2023. He’s averaged 8.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 87 appearances with Detroit over the past two seasons.

There’s very little chance Wiseman will ever live up to the hype from when he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Warriors in the 2020 NBA draft. He struggled during his time in Golden State, which included missing the entire 2021-22 season due to a knee injury.

Going to the Pistons afforded Wiseman an opportunity to develop his game in a lower-pressure environment. His 119 offensive rating during the 2023-24 season was the second-best of his career.

Wiseman’s defensive deficiencies will always limit his ceiling, but in short bursts as a scoring option, he can be a positive rotation player.

The Pistons are in such dire straits right now that committing $15.9 million on a one-year tender, or potentially matching an offer sheet for Wiseman, wouldn’t seem to make sense from a roster-building standpoint.

Detroit is set to potentially start free agency on Sunday without a head coach in place. Monty Williams was fired after one season on June 19. New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego reportedly removed himself from consideration for the job.

The Pistons are the only team left that made a coaching change after the season yet to hire a new person.