Wolves Deal Wiggins to Hornets

[Lipoli390]

How's that for a provocative title. Mitch Kupchak walked right in front of us in Cox Pavilion yesterday as we were watching the Wolves game. And he sat right across the floor from us during the Hornets loss to China. Talk about a broken franchise! I tried to catch Mitch as he walked by to put a bug in his ear about how Andrew Wiggins could rescue the Hornets organization. Unfortunately, he went by too fast. But seriously, I could honestly see him trading for Wiggins and actually giving us something of value in addition to salary relief.

Here are some possibilities:

1. Wiggins straight up for Batum, Charlotte's top 20 protected 1st and Cleveland's 2020 2nd round pick, which should be in the 31-35 range. I'd settle for Batum and Cleveland's 2nd. The Wolves would get about $2 million in cap relief the next two years and then get an additional $25 million in cap relief the following two years. Meanwhile, Batum has proven to be a better 3-point shooter and could be a solid SF/PF for the Wolves.

2. Wiggins for Kidd-Gilchrist and Zeller or Marvin Williams plus the picks identified above. Whether it's Zeller or Williams, the salaries match almost dollar for dollar. A Kidd-Gilchrist/Marvin Williams deal gives the Wolves full cap relief from Wiggins contract at the end of this next season. A Kidd-Gilchrist/Zeller deal would give us around $13 million in relief after one season and the rest after the following season.

Gersson should give Mitch a call as soon as he can and offer him this lifeline for MJ's franchise. It's the right thing to do.

[Monster]

Honestly based on what I have gathered I don't think Rosas is dying to get rid of Wiggins. I think he sees Wiggins as a possible very good player even if it's not that likely. If he has to take back anything bad or doesn't get anything kinda good he is gonna stick with him and see what he can do. Remember Wiggins value is probably as low as it can get and I would bet on him having some sort of upswing this season...hard to imagine him getting worse.

[Lipoli390]

Honestly based on what I have gathered I don't think Rosas is dying to get rid of Wiggins. I think he sees Wiggins as a possible very good player even if it's not that likely. If he has to take back anything bad or doesn't get anything kinda good he is gonna stick with him and see what he can do. Remember Wiggins value is probably as low as it can get and I would bet on him having some sort of upswing this season...hard to imagine him getting worse.

I actually think you're right about Rosas being inclined to keep Wiggins unless it's part of a broader transaction to get an impact player like D'Angelo Russell. And I agree that Wiggins trade value is about as low as it can go. As I've said before, Andrew's trade value will naturally go up as his contract shortens with each passing year. :) But then again, I think the Hornets are particularly vulnerable to a deal that would allow the Wolves to get out from under Andrew's contract and still get a semi-valuable asset or two in return. Wiggins for Batum and Cleveland's 2nd round pick wouldn't be bad. But as you said, I don't see it happening.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I've floated the Batum deal before.

But I don't think the Wolves are getting any picks in return.

I'd do it as a straight-up trade, considering Batum is "still" the better player right now and has two fewer years on his deal. The rub is that he's not a great fit for the Wolves. He can create a bit for others, but not for himself. The Wolves are already light on guys who can do that. Covington and Batum on the wings would make for one helluva terrible offense.

[Leado01]

Lip...want to take a second Murrays dinner bet that doesn't take the whole season?

I will take the over on Wiggins averaging 21.5 pts/game through Dec. 15. (if he is still with Wolves).

[TAFKASP]

I hate you Lip.

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

Wiggins is 5th in the entire NBA in shooting % last year (that shoot at least 25 3p from the corners)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Wiggins is 5th in the entire NBA in shooting % last year (that shoot at least 25 3p from the corners)

He's actually a career 43% 3 pt shooter from the corners. His worst season was 37% a couple years ago, so this is a consistent pattern over 5 years now. Yet he has only taken 16% of his 3s from the corner. Incredible mis-management by his coaches over that time frame.

Assuming he's still on the roster, he should absolutely be in the corners for most offensive sets and we should be running Princeton/Corner offense type sets up the wazoo with KAT at the elbows or extended out beyond the arc.

[Monster]

Wiggins is 5th in the entire NBA in shooting % last year (that shoot at least 25 3p from the corners)

He's actually a career 43% 3 pt shooter from the corners. His worst season was 37% a couple years ago, so this is a consistent pattern over 5 years now. Yet he has only taken 16% of his 3s from the corner. Incredible mis-management by his coaches over that time frame.

Assuming he's still on the roster, he should absolutely be in the corners for most offensive sets and we should be running Princeton/Corner offense type sets up the wazoo with KAT at the elbows or extended out beyond the arc.

Apollo that's a heck of a stat. Could you share where you got that info? I'd like to check out some of the numbers.

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

LOL - I was missing the other part - in the left corner.
I realize its a sample size thing - but last year he shot well in the corners as well. I think the biggest thing to take from this is - he is really bad shooting the 3 anywhere else

https://stats.nba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&DistanceRange=By%20Zone&CF=Corner%203%20FGA*GE*25&PerMode=Totals&sort=Left%20Corner%203%20FG%20PCT&dir=1