Minnesota Sports Forum

monsterpile wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:The only real new info is Wiggins changing agents. Why? It seems people are miffed about that. Will we find out why he changed? Maybe until then I don't know if there is a whole lot to be gathered from that. Other than that there isn't much about Wiggins, Glen, the extension that hasn't been covered on this forum already. From what I have heard/read the article isn't worth clicking on so I haven't. Most likely Wiggins is gonna sign his $148 million 5 year deal chat with Glen and things carry on. My guess is Thibs and Wiggins are on the same page and that's more what matters.

Not sure who's miffed about Wiggins changing agents -- except of course for Bill Duffy. :) Seriously, I think you're right that Wiggins will sign the deal after a meaningless chat with Glen. I think you nailed it saying that Wiggins and Thibs are on the same page. And as you mentioned, that's what matters the most.

You should, however, read the article. As I indicated, it's over the top, but makes some good points about Glen Taylor and this franchise.

Jon K basically said various people including some people within the Wolves organization are miffed about him changing agents so that's mostly what I was referring to.

Thanks, Monster. I hadn't heard that.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I can see Wiggins getting a little tired of the criticism he's received at the ripe age of 22. Scoring over 23 points per game while logging the most minutes, hek every player his age should have done that by now. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if he's starting to think this isn't the best place for him. And as we've seen it isn't hard to force your way out of a city. Just a couple of well timed comments to the media while simultaneously going to management and requesting a trade might be enough. I'm starting to sense things don't end well for Wig in Minnesota.

There are very few sports cities easier on its pro athletes than Minnesota.

I simply haven't seen any pointed criticism directed toward Wiggins that he wouldn't see in any other city housing a perpetually lousy team. Heck, it would be a lot louder in most other cities, I'm nearly convinced of it.

The Wolves actually take a quiet backseat to other sports in this town. There have been NO expectations. And a litany of failed picks ahead of Wiggins in Wolves lore. Heck, if anything, this town is known for being too easy. Remember all the criticism of Teflon Garnett and one of the reasons floated for him staying here was that he would never face the scrutiny of other NBA cities and media markets?

I think your affinity for Wiggins makes you more hyper-sensitive to any jab at him. But let's be honest... to be staring at a MAX deal despite no guarantees that he'll be worth it... I think Wiggins has been heaped more praise than criticism by us mild-mannered Midwesterners.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I can see Wiggins getting a little tired of the criticism he's received at the ripe age of 22. Scoring over 23 points per game while logging the most minutes, hek every player his age should have done that by now. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if he's starting to think this isn't the best place for him. And as we've seen it isn't hard to force your way out of a city. Just a couple of well timed comments to the media while simultaneously going to management and requesting a trade might be enough. I'm starting to sense things don't end well for Wig in Minnesota.

There are very few sports cities easier on its pro athletes than Minnesota.

I simply haven't seen any pointed criticism directed toward Wiggins that he wouldn't see in any other city housing a perpetually lousy team. Heck, it would be a lot louder in most other cities, I'm nearly convinced of it.

The Wolves actually take a quiet backseat to other sports in this town. There have been NO expectations. And a litany of failed picks ahead of Wiggins in Wolves lore. Heck, if anything, this town is known for being too easy. Remember all the criticism of Teflon Garnett and one of the reasons floated for him staying here was that he would never face the scrutiny of other NBA cities and media markets?

I think your affinity for Wiggins makes you more hyper-sensitive to any jab at him. But let's be honest... to be staring at a MAX deal despite no guarantees that he'll be worth it... I think Wiggins has been heaped more praise than criticism by us mild-mannered Midwesterners.

I agree with most of what you say here, especially that this city is more easy on it's athletes and teams than most. I just don't like that he seems to be judged against unrealistic expectations as opposed to what he's actually done. At face value his performance has been good relative to most players his age. But if you expected him to be the next Kobe or Lebron I can see where there would be disappointment.

But my main point in the post wasn't to be sensitive to the criticism he receives, it was more of a prediction on how I see this playing out. For some unknown reason he fired his agent who just negotiated the deal for him. He still hasn't signed the deal and there are no indications that will happen anytime soon. He sees the handwriting on the wall that he is going to play 3rd fiddle behind KAT and Butler. But even though he is 3rd in the pecking order, because of the first max deal he's the one that's going to be singled out the most if the team doesn't reach expectations. His owner has publicly called him out. A sizeable portion of the fan base and the media harp on what he hasn't done. Maybe I'm wrong and he will take a Klay Thompson / Draymond Green type attitude and flourish as the 3rd seed. I hope that's the case. But more players today seem to take the Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving road, especially with the increasing power players are gaining where they want to play.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I can see Wiggins getting a little tired of the criticism he's received at the ripe age of 22. Scoring over 23 points per game while logging the most minutes, hek every player his age should have done that by now. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if he's starting to think this isn't the best place for him. And as we've seen it isn't hard to force your way out of a city. Just a couple of well timed comments to the media while simultaneously going to management and requesting a trade might be enough. I'm starting to sense things don't end well for Wig in Minnesota.

There are very few sports cities easier on its pro athletes than Minnesota.

I simply haven't seen any pointed criticism directed toward Wiggins that he wouldn't see in any other city housing a perpetually lousy team. Heck, it would be a lot louder in most other cities, I'm nearly convinced of it.

The Wolves actually take a quiet backseat to other sports in this town. There have been NO expectations. And a litany of failed picks ahead of Wiggins in Wolves lore. Heck, if anything, this town is known for being too easy. Remember all the criticism of Teflon Garnett and one of the reasons floated for him staying here was that he would never face the scrutiny of other NBA cities and media markets?

I think your affinity for Wiggins makes you more hyper-sensitive to any jab at him. But let's be honest... to be staring at a MAX deal despite no guarantees that he'll be worth it... I think Wiggins has been heaped more praise than criticism by us mild-mannered Midwesterners.

I agree with most of what you say here, especially that this city is more easy on it's athletes and teams than most. I just don't like that he seems to be judged against unrealistic expectations as opposed to what he's actually done. At face value his performance has been good relative to most players his age. But if you expected him to be the next Kobe or Lebron I can see where there would be disappointment.

But my main point in the post wasn't to be sensitive to the criticism he receives, it was more of a prediction on how I see this playing out. For some unknown reason he fired his agent who just negotiated the deal for him. He still hasn't signed the deal and there are no indications that will happen anytime soon. He sees the handwriting on the wall that he is going to play 3rd fiddle behind KAT and Butler. But even though he is 3rd in the pecking order, because of the first max deal he's the one that's going to be singled out the most if the team doesn't reach expectations. His owner has publicly called him out. A sizeable portion of the fan base and the media harp on what he hasn't done. Maybe I'm wrong and he will take a Klay Thompson / Draymond Green type attitude and flourish as the 3rd seed. I hope that's the case. But more players today seem to take the Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving road, especially with the increasing power players are gaining where they want to play.

Fair enough.

And if he puts his own hubris over the team despite not "really accomplishing" too much in the NBA... maybe the Wolves should be seeking some sort of extension and then trade for him.

The question is whether other teams will view a $150+M Wiggins as a great get... or a significant risk. I think the answer varies by organization honestly...

I think it's absolutely ridiculous to suggest that Glen Taylor doesn't have the right to ask Wiggins to look him in the face and promise him he'll put in the work to earn the $150 million that Glen's going to be paying out. Sorry, but how is that an insult? Maybe if the Wolves were undercutting Wiggins, but even with Wiggins scoring, he's still not close to helping us win a championship. Right now he's a poor man's Carmelo Anthony, or a rich man's Rudy Gay. The things he has going for him are his body type, athleticism, scoring prowess, and age. If he never got any better, he wouldn't come close to being worth the max contract. I'll give you this, maybe saying it publicly isn't the best move, but Glen has never been one to shy away from a question, so why would we suddenly be surprised by that? I don't think it's calling Andrew out as much as it is just Glen being transparent. At the same time, if Wiggins were the hardest worker on the team, I don't think there's any question that Glen wouldn't have made the comment, so maybe Wig needs someone to challenge his work ethic.

With that said, I do think it's smart to give him the max because of his potential and if this team is going to become a championship contender, Wiggins IS the biggest key. Basically, Andrew Wiggins represents both the biggest key to the Wolves championship hopes, as well as the biggest potential hindrance to it. Towns appears on the path for greatness, and even he needs to improve, but if you were to ask any Wolves fan that of the 3 players (Towns, Wiggins, and Butler), which player is the biggest wildcard, it's Wiggins and it's really not close. If all he ever is is a volume scorer for this team, we won't ever be a contender with him on a max contract, we just won't. And if it bothers Wiggins that Glen, the same guy who publicly called Wiggins untouchable in trade discussions, wants Wiggins to look him in the eye and swear to him he'll put in hard work...well, then I don't want him on the team anyway, because we're going nowhere with him on the team if that's the case.

Wiggins may have a very high ceiling, but he's not Michael Jordan, and a fragile psyche isn't winning anything in this league.

Maybe Wiggins canned his agent so he doesn't have to give him a cut of his max deal. Why have an agent when the max is on the table? Are all the little contract things like life restrictions (can't play other sports,etc.) worth the commission his agent gets?

khans2k5 wrote:Maybe Wiggins canned his agent so he doesn't have to give him a cut of his max deal. Why have an agent when the max is on the table? Are all the little contract things like life restrictions (can't play other sports,etc.) worth the commission his agent gets?

The agent he fired will still get the commission on anything he signs

kekgeek1 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Maybe Wiggins canned his agent so he doesn't have to give him a cut of his max deal. Why have an agent when the max is on the table? Are all the little contract things like life restrictions (can't play other sports,etc.) worth the commission his agent gets?

The agent he fired will still get the commission on anything he signs

I don't think that's a guarantee. There has to be a time frame that can expire for him to sign the deal without paying a commission.