The Indiana Pacers are in New Orleans to take on the Pelicans. Before Saturday night’s tipoff, the Pacers announced that they have brought back James Wiseman on a 10-day contract. They are using the NBA hardship exception.
Severely Banged Up Pacers Make Roster Moves Before Pelicans Game, What Does It Mean?
Wiseman started last season with Indiana but only appeared in one game with the Pacers before being traded and then waived by Toronto. Wiseman returned to the Pacers this summer on a multi-year contract. But the 24-year-old was waived two weeks into the season as the Pacers’ backcourt became ravaged with injuries.
Wiseman, known for his offensive ability, scored four points on 2 of 3 shooting and grabbed four offensive rebounds in his lone NBA game this year against Memphis. He also blocked a shot and committed three turnovers in 20 minutes.
Wiseman had been out of basketball since being released by Indiana. But Wiseman is active for tonight’s game against the Pelicans, as the Pacers could be down to 11 active players. Four players have been ruled out, and Tony Bradley is questionable. Plus, Kam Jones and Taelon Peter are on G-League assignments.
Speaking of Bradley, he exited Thursday’s loss to New York with a fractured thumb. As Tony East of Circle Spin City pointed out, bringing back Wiseman likely means that Bradley will miss time.
“Wiseman is able to sign a 10-day contract via the NBA’s hardship exception, which is granted to teams that are dealing with numerous lengthy injuries,” East said via Forbes.com. “Ben Sheppard, Tyrese Haliburton, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith are currently sidelined for the Pacers and project to be out for a few more weeks.”
To make room for Wiseman, the Pacers waived Gabe McGlothan, who had signed a 10-day contract with the Pacers on December 16. McGlothan, who didn’t play against the Knicks, spent training camp with the Pacers and was with their G-League squad, Noblesville Boom, before signing the contract. The 26-year-old forward will likely return to the Boom, where he was off to a strong start to the season.
Why was Wiseman brought back?
Since waiving Wiseman, Indiana has been carrying three centers, and all of them have been active for all 27 of the Pacers’ games. Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson have split most of the minutes and starts. While Bradley has started three of his 23 appearances, he has seen sparse time over the last month.
Bradley has seen more than 10 minutes just once in the Pacers’ last 13 games. Bradley has also received three DNPs since November 20. But he will be active tonight after being listed as questionable, per Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.
“Rick Carlisle says Tony Bradley’s thumb is “partially functional” with a splint on it,” Doperik tweeted. “Said he will probably be listed as active, and he can be a big body that plays defense, but it is his shooting hand, and it’s painful.”
Doperak added that Carlisle said signing Wiseman was directly related to Bradley’s injury. So, unless Bradley shows that he can’t provide any minutes with the injury, don’t expect Wiseman to see many minutes during these 10 days. Especially since he isn’t in game shape, as Carlisle stated.
Indiana (6-21) enters the game against New Orleans (6-22) on a three-game losing streak. After tonight, the Pacers have five more games before Wiseman’s deal expires. Sheppard and Nesmith are expected to return after Christmas, when they host Boston on December 26.
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