In defense of Wiggins...

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Yeah Wiggins is not tradeable in his current, um, condition. But giving more of his minutes to MGH and Bazz would be a good idea for this teams health.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

This team needs to be built around Butler and KAT, period. If Wiggins ever gets a consistent 3-point shot that he can make in volume, he is probably good to go as our secondary wing since Butler will do most of the heavy lifting. But who knows if that ever happens?

But if the team feels he can't be that guy, they really do need to look at options this summer (after the poison pill thingy goes away). I don't think his trade value will be totally in the tank, but it will take a team desperate for a new, young-ish face to swing a deal.

[kekgeek]

I strongly disagree on the people saying wiggins has no value in this league. 5 months ago multiple reports said wiggins could be traded for 2 top 15 players in Jimmy and Irving. That is knowing a max deal was on the way. A person dosen't move from be able to acquire 2 top 15 players to no value at all in 5 months of average basketball.

Not worried at all if they come to the conclusion that wiggins needs to be traded that we won't get good value back.

[Duke13]

I strongly disagree on the people saying wiggins has no value in this league. 5 months ago multiple reports said wiggins could be traded for 2 top 15 players in Jimmy and Irving. That is knowing a max deal was on the way. A person dosen't move from be able to acquire 2 top 15 players to no value at all in 5 months of average basketball.

Not worried at all if they come to the conclusion that wiggins needs to be traded that we won't get good value back.

Because he was rumored in those deals doesn't mean he's near those players in value. Watching Butler and Wig play together shows us how far apart they are. They league leant think highly of Wiggins. That luster of untapped potential is almost gone. More completely embarrassing games in National TV will make is value as negative.

[WildWolf2813]

I've given up on Wiggins. He has no incentive to get better, and now the whispers are getting louder about his lack of motor.

If LaVine blossoms in Chicago, Wiggins will be the target of everyone's displeasure on the court.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Wiggins bugs me. A lot.

But I can't commit to starting Spergon Wynn, or Bazz, or whoever ahead of him. It's pretty funny, actually. Muhammad hasn't done anything to deserve that spot.

[thedoper]

https://soundcloud.com/wolves-radio/sets/01-09-practice-audio

Thibs seems eager to defend Wiggins. I guess there's really no need for anything else. If he's seeing progress I'm happy.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

https://soundcloud.com/wolves-radio/sets/01-09-practice-audio

Thibs seems eager to defend Wiggins. I guess there's really no need for anything else. If he's seeing progress I'm happy.

Well, as GM he committed the franchise to making Wiggins one of the team's future pillars. He has every reason to rationalize that decision. He also seems to truly think he can keep improving, despite a trajectory that belies such a projection. Perhaps playing the role as 2nd fiddle wing improves Wiggins' game in unforeseen ways. We'll find out, but in the here and now, he's still producing like a mediocre NBA wing.

[thedoper]

https://soundcloud.com/wolves-radio/sets/01-09-practice-audio

Thibs seems eager to defend Wiggins. I guess there's really no need for anything else. If he's seeing progress I'm happy.

Well, as GM he committed the franchise to making Wiggins one of the team's future pillars. He has every reason to rationalize that decision. He also seems to truly think he can keep improving, despite a trajectory that belies such a projection. Perhaps playing the role as 2nd fiddle wing improves Wiggins' game in unforeseen ways. We'll find out, but in the here and now, he's still producing like a mediocre NBA wing.

I'll take Thibs assessment over yours. D matters to Thibs and his D has improved. He's really getting the team concepts and become a great switching defender with Jimmy. Top 15% in DWS. 2nd most defended 3s. Respectable drating.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

https://soundcloud.com/wolves-radio/sets/01-09-practice-audio

Thibs seems eager to defend Wiggins. I guess there's really no need for anything else. If he's seeing progress I'm happy.

Well, as GM he committed the franchise to making Wiggins one of the team's future pillars. He has every reason to rationalize that decision. He also seems to truly think he can keep improving, despite a trajectory that belies such a projection. Perhaps playing the role as 2nd fiddle wing improves Wiggins' game in unforeseen ways. We'll find out, but in the here and now, he's still producing like a mediocre NBA wing.

I'll take Thibs assessment over yours. D matters to Thibs and his D has improved. He's really getting the team concepts and become a great switching defender with Jimmy. Top 15% in DWS. 2nd most defended 3s. Respectable drating.

Insofar as he is a member of the starting 5 that has indeed been surging defensively, then yes, he deserves some share of the credit for that. How much I really don't know, as I think his role on defense is less important than Butler, Taj, and KAT's. But still....fine, he's no longer as bad of a team defender.

The issue with Wiggins is less about whether he can be a functional NBA rotation player. Jeff Green and Rudy Gay are also functional players that have always been in NBA rotations. The issue is whether he lives up to the expectation of signing a max contract extension and does his output justify that kind of contract. On that front, he still falls woefully short. Hopefully he's truly a late bloomer and proves me and so many others wrong.

On the more comprehensive advanced metrics - PER, WS/48, RPM, BPM, and VORP - it's pretty much mediocrity across the board.