Andrew Wiggins Preseason Evaluation

[worldK]

Q, I know that your comparisons is based on what you think will likely happen. My take is its off. No way wiggins end up on ariza level, thats just ridiculous. The George/pierce comp from me is also what I think will most likely happen and not what I hope.

You ignored the scouts/analysts that have followed wiggins since he was a teen and those who do it for a living. Never in their right minds would they have ariza/batum/derozan ranked #1 over a jabari parker.

I remember reading many of those same scouts and analysts telling us how great Harrison Barnes, John Wall, Shabazz Muhammed, OJ Mayo, and DeMar DeRozan were going to be. None of them have turned into the superstars that some predicted they would become when they were in high school.

You are saying that Wiggins' most likely scenario is Paul George. That's pretty damn bold in my opinion. What's his best case scenario then in your opinion?

Q, no one ranked barnes, mayo, derozan or shabazz number 1 or 2 after their college season.

My best case is a better george or pierce.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I haven't seen Wiggins play yet.

But, if the most likely scenario is him being a surefire HOF player (Paul Pierce)... or even better than him... I'm excited to see him play once the regular season begins.

It's always great to have a likely HOFer on the squad. Fun times.

[mjs34]

This is so stupid. The young man hasn't even played a regular season game yet. No one here has a clue what he is going to turn out to be. For those saying he will never be Jordan - way to go out on a limb! But don't tell me we should be happy if he ascends to the level of Batum. That's just nonsense.

Cool, I agree with you completely. Q kept proposing this ariza-derozan-batum level for wiggins. I think thats absurd. For one, Im fairly certain wiggins will be way better than all 3. Ariza isnt even a floor for wiggins. Come on now. Wiggins has been highly touted and ranked since high school. He has scouts scruntinizing his game since he was a teen and he still is by the way. He is also a much better athlete than those 3 and they are pretty good athletes themselves. Batum/derozan/Gay are wiggins floor fo me and im confident he will be better than those 3.

While were at it, stop with this mj comparison as well. MJ is the arguably the best basketball player ever. Kobe and bron arent better than jordan so why are we comparing wiggins to jordan and making a case for it?

For me, Paul George/Paul Pierce is a more apt ceiling for wiggins. He cetainly has the tools to be better than those 2 as well. Just tired of seeing posts comparing him to mj or this ariza/batum/derozan level that is being harped on.

World, this sounds like you're saying "keep your opinions to yourself" because they don't coincide with yours. Feel free to take your own advice.

As Q pointed out, the MJ comparison was done as a counter to one of his arguments, and while he and I debate the circumstances, it does point to similar efficiencies. Nobody stated that AW would reach MJ, Lebron or Durant's status, as that is something that doesn't happen very often.

Using other players in comparisons that demonstrate athleticism, decent shooting but a weaker handle or lack of aggressiveness taking the ball to the hole isn't unreasonable. You are using Paul Pierce, and I can't see one thing that AW and him have in common. Pierce is a very good shooter with a high level of confidence, while being average at best defensively. AW seems to be the exact opposite when looking at his skillset and mental makeup.

[BloopOracle]

Q, I know that your comparisons is based on what you think will likely happen. My take is its off. No way wiggins end up on ariza level, thats just ridiculous. The George/pierce comp from me is also what I think will most likely happen and not what I hope.

You ignored the scouts/analysts that have followed wiggins since he was a teen and those who do it for a living. Never in their right minds would they have ariza/batum/derozan ranked #1 over a jabari parker.

I remember reading many of those same scouts and analysts telling us how great Harrison Barnes, John Wall, Shabazz Muhammed, OJ Mayo, and DeMar DeRozan were going to be. None of them have turned into the superstars that some predicted they would become when they were in high school.

You are saying that Wiggins' most likely scenario is Paul George. That's pretty damn bold in my opinion. What's his best case scenario then in your opinion?

I don't see how it is bold, those names you listed had nowhere near the pedigree defensively Wiggins has so Paul George makes plenty sense

[Coolbreeze44]

There is no way Wiggins ultimate ceiling can be Paul George. He is a better prospect coming out of college than George was, and he is a better athlete than George. Therefore it is theoretically impossible for him to be capped at a George level. If George could become George, then Wiggins can exceed that level. Again we are talking about his extreme ceiling, not necessarily what he will become.

[BloopOracle]

I have a `hard time predicting what his player ceiling player comparison is because he is so unique, has there ever really been anyone just like him?

[Coolbreeze44]

I have a `hard time predicting what his player ceiling player comparison is because he is so unique, has there ever really been anyone just like him?

There really isn't. I've mentioned Dominique Wilkins before, but another possibility would be Michael Cooper of the Lakers.

[KiwiMatt]

I think the ceiling for Wiggins is a hybrid of Batum's defense and Paul George's offense.

[60WinTim]

I sure hope all these "ceilings" are being set by the same people who set ceilings on Love...

Just sayin'

[worldK]

Sjm, its not what i meant although it does sounds like it after re reading my posts. My bad. Main point for me is that its always hard to compare anyone to mj. So i get iffy everytime mj is brought in for comparisson to anyone.

Now my pierce comp is based on impact and legacy. Pierce is a player that can lead your team to the playoffs when you have a decent team but he needs an equal level player like kg to bring championship to a team. Thats where im going with, i understand your going more with athletecism in your mj comp so i hope were clear on this subject.