Warriors news: Optimistic take on James Wiseman's return from injury

The Warriors are hoping standout rookie center James Wiseman can return from a wrist injury during the team's ongoing road trip.

Rookie center James Wiseman has missed the last nine games for the Golden State Warriors as he continues to recover from a strained left wrist, but it looks like he will be returning to the team’s lineup soon.

After the team re-evaluated his injury, Wiseman will hopefully be able to join the Warriors during their upcoming four-game road trip against Eastern Conference opponents, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

The "hope" is that James Wiseman can return during this upcoming four-game road trip, Warriors say after a re-evaluation of his sprained wrist. Team plays in Orlando, Charlotte, Indianapolis and New York.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 18, 2021

Following their 120-112 overtime win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday, the Dubs will play their next four games away from the Chase Center. They will visit the Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks during the trip, with Wiseman hopefully rejoining them in one of those games. Wiseman sprained his wrist during the team’s 118-91 win over the Detroit Pistons back on Jan. 30 and was initially supposed to miss 7-10 days.

In 20 games for the Warriors, the second overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft has averaged 12.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from beyond the arc, and has been playing well before his injury. His return will certainly be a boost for Golden State, which currently has a 16-13 record and sits at seventh place in the Western Conference standings.

The return of the 19-year-old rookie brings much-needed size for the team’s frontcourt, which has also dealt with injuries to big men Kevon Looney and Eric Paschall this season. Paschall has since returned to the team’s roster, while Looney, like Wiseman, is likely to rejoin the team during their upcoming road trip. It's interesting to see whether Wiseman will pick up where he left off once he returns to the court, as the Warriors look to strengthen their hold on one of the top eight spots in the West.