AbeVigodaLive wrote:Everybody should be ecstatic if Wiggins becomes a top 15 player.
Towns appears on his way even higher than that. How many other teams with two top 15 guys haven't been legit playoff contenders?
Pelicans? OK, that's kinda not fair.
Yes, KAT + The-Wiggins-we-all-dream-he-will-become definitely seems like a tandem that can lead us to the playoffs on a perennial basis....assuming they keep improving on defense....assuming Wiggins doesn't disappear (relatively speaking) for weeks at a time.....assuming they don't get hurt.
The thing about Wig is no one really knows where his ceiling is. Two years ago, if I had said he would become a top 15 player in the league I would have met strong resistance here. I think as each year goes by you can be a little more accurate with his projection, but he's one guy you just don't know for sure. And when I say that I mean both in a good and bad way. He might settle into a Rudy Gay type player, but I also happen to believe it's possible he can become better than Tracy McGrady or Dwayne Wade. He's not just young in age, his body is young relative to his age. There's just so much more development that could take place. My best guess today is that he makes 1st team all NBA at least once.
I keep saying this but a big reason why it's tough to really get a read on Wiggins is he thinks so much. Other than a few special things he does athletically and his high level post game at his age it doesn't feel like he plays instinctive because...he is often doing things based on come calulation or method. It's like taking Kobe's approach taking the edge off and adding a pair of nerd glasses a couple pocket protectors and a set of encyclopedias. It's like Wiggins is this physically challenged dude like Tyus and has to think how to beat guys but he isn't. It's kinda funny especially when it seems like Tyus (who plays smart) is so instinctual. Wiggins is a very odd young player in that way. I'm not sure I have ever seen anyone like him.
I'd be interested in what people like Lip who have been to games has to say on this but the last few weeks Wiggins seems more comfortable as a human on the court. I see him smiling and chatting with other players. He seems plenty locked in when it matters but he seems to be just more comfortable as a human. A nmber of his teammates have said over last couple years he is a funny guy great to talk to when he knows you feels comfortable etc.
I think that's a good step for him. He needs to balance out the way he tried to play the game in his method and just play some ball at times. He is process oriented and so is his coach. I think that his approach to his game could end up paying off as he will keep improving each year.
Wiggins is a pretty good player right now and I am thrilled he is on this team. I think people are going to be surprised how good he is when he is 25 years old and he won't have topped out yet.
I think he's still developing his basketball IQ and figuring out how to play in this league with the ball in his hands. He's gone from pretty much pure raw athleticism and raw skill to more refined play this year. He couldn't have run a PnR to save his life his rookie year. He's starting to find guys on the court a little more this year. He's seen an uptick in his shooting stroke this year. I think a summer under Thibs will result in the jump people were expecting this season to happen next year. I also don't think he closes seasons real well because he plays pretty much every game at 37 minutes a pop. He was second in the league in total minutes his rookie year and he's second this year behind Harden who has 2 more games played and only 30 more minutes total. We really need to bring in a reliable wing that can keep his minutes down more moving forward. When you factor in how raw he was coming into the pro's I think he's progressing fine. No handle, no strength, decent shooting and little experience running an offense to what he can do today is pretty good progression when you look at him now imo. It's not the typical superstar development path, but I think he can still get there in time.
Wiggins will be fine. The good thing is Wiggins looks like he is a the type of player that can carry a team about a 3rd of the time. Towns is looking like a guy that can do it about half the time. If LaVine shows he can carry this team about a quarter of the time we are in very good shape moving forward.
bleedspeed177 wrote:Wiggins will be fine. The good thing is Wiggins looks like he is a the type of player that can carry a team about a 3rd of the time. Towns is looking like a guy that can do it about half the time. If LaVine shows he can carry this team about a quarter of the time we are in very good shape moving forward.
What about Rubio? An argument can be made that he is making a push to be the third wheel of a Big 3.
bleedspeed177 wrote:Wiggins will be fine. The good thing is Wiggins looks like he is a the type of player that can carry a team about a 3rd of the time. Towns is looking like a guy that can do it about half the time. If LaVine shows he can carry this team about a quarter of the time we are in very good shape moving forward.
What about Rubio? An argument can be made that he is making a push to be the third wheel of a Big 3.
I was going to say Rubio/LaVine. He makes a huge impact when he is on. I would love to see him stay state side this offseason.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:The thing about Wig is no one really knows where his ceiling is. Two years ago, if I had said he would become a top 15 player in the league I would have met strong resistance here. I think as each year goes by you can be a little more accurate with his projection, but he's one guy you just don't know for sure. And when I say that I mean both in a good and bad way. He might settle into a Rudy Gay type player, but I also happen to believe it's possible he can become better than Tracy McGrady or Dwayne Wade. He's not just young in age, his body is young relative to his age. There's just so much more development that could take place. My best guess today is that he makes 1st team all NBA at least once.
Better than D. Wade?
That's a lofty projection. Start counting the titles now if that comes to fruition... Wade is widely considered the #4 SG in NBA history.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:The thing about Wig is no one really knows where his ceiling is. Two years ago, if I had said he would become a top 15 player in the league I would have met strong resistance here. I think as each year goes by you can be a little more accurate with his projection, but he's one guy you just don't know for sure. And when I say that I mean both in a good and bad way. He might settle into a Rudy Gay type player, but I also happen to believe it's possible he can become better than Tracy McGrady or Dwayne Wade. He's not just young in age, his body is young relative to his age. There's just so much more development that could take place. My best guess today is that he makes 1st team all NBA at least once.
Better than D. Wade?
That's a lofty projection. Start counting the titles now if that comes to fruition... Wade is widely considered the #4 SG in NBA history.
