Early Season evaluation: Andrew Wiggins

[Coolbreeze44]

20 games guys. He's literally just a pup. Maybe by the all star break next season, if he hasn't shown more you can make these claims. Certainly not now. Just about every great player he's gone up against has sang his praises already. He's already come a long ways this season.

[bleedspeed]

20 games guys. He's literally just a pup. Maybe by the all star break next season, if he hasn't shown more you can make these claims. Certainly not now. Just about every great player he's gone up against has sang his praises already. He's already come a long ways this season.

Patience is also important. Nobody here know what is going on behind closed doors and I am sure they have an approach and are letting it work.

[AbeVigodaLive]

20 games guys. He's literally just a pup. Maybe by the all star break next season, if he hasn't shown more you can make these claims. Certainly not now. Just about every great player he's gone up against has sang his praises already. He's already come a long ways this season.

Nobody is asking him to be a finished product. Not even close.

We're looking for glimpses of a SUPERSTAR right now. Not just capable. Not just good. Not just borderline All Star. As the #1 pick in an allegedly loaded draft and as the centerpiece in a trade for the franchise's 2nd best player... SUPERSTAR potential.

Is it fair? Maybe not. But Wiggins' potential is a huge part of why we are willingly embracing Wolves Rebuild v.9.0. And we're still waiting for that glimmer of all-world ability and talent.

There's no timetable when we'll get it. 20 games. 40 games. 120 games. But NBA history tells us that at some point relatively early all the other superstars showed those glimpses of "being the best guy on the court and dominating in a way and doing things that nobody else can do"...

If one thing can be said of diehard Wolves fans... it's that we're patient. It's 26 years... and counting*. So, I will always wince at anybody who claims I'm not patient about these things.




* sans 1 season.

[Coolbreeze44]

Guys on this board are patient with the Wolves. But if you look at the crowds recently it doesn't look like that patience extends to the vast majority of paying customers.

As far as glimpses of superstar potential, I've seen them. I guess it depends what lens you are looking through. If you're looking for the signs of a budding star, I think you can see them. If you are taking a cynical view (and I don't blame Wolves fans for doing so) you're going to see the flaws and be more likely to ignore the good.

The one thing that could hold him back is his motor. I don't know if that is something that can be developed. I'm trying to think of a legit superstar that didn't have a great motor. Maybe James Worthy, or perhaps Clyde Drexler?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Guys on this board are patient with the Wolves. But if you look at the crowds recently it doesn't look like that patience extends to the vast majority of paying customers.

As far as glimpses of superstar potential, I've seen them. I guess it depends what lens you are looking through. If you're looking for the signs of a budding star, I think you can see them. If you are taking a cynical view (and I don't blame Wolves fans for doing so) you're going to see the flaws and be more likely to ignore the good.

The one thing that could hold him back is his motor. I don't know if that is something that can be developed. I'm trying to think of a legit superstar that didn't have a great motor. Maybe James Worthy, or perhaps Clyde Drexler?

I haven't seen any superstar basketball qualities yet. He's athletic as hell... but if it's not being used to make basketball moves... meh. A lot of guys can hang in the air and make pretty turnarounds and step-backs. I'm not even pointing out flaws, I just haven't seen those "wow" differentiating moments yet.

And this franchise is dangerously close to abject apathy. I think it was already perilously close with the Love trade and yet another rebuild. Wiggins is the overwhelming reason for a lot of fans clinging to hope that this (umpteenth) time will be different.

So that's a lot riding on his immense potential.

[thedoper]

I agree with the analysis of Wiggins strengths and faults and disagree with the conclusions about his potential completely. His potential is still through the roof because of his athleticism. His stroke is sweet, which is a great foundation for superstardom. The weaknesses he is showing right now were all totally apparent before he was drafted. But he was touted as the number 1 pick because of potential. He is going to be great.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I agree with the analysis of Wiggins strengths and faults and disagree with the conclusions about his potential completely. His potential is still through the roof because of his athleticism. His stroke is sweet, which is a great foundation for superstardom. The weaknesses he is showing right now were all totally apparent before he was drafted. But he was touted as the number 1 pick because of potential. He is going to be great.

There are very very few certainties in the NBA. Especially the ones who don't excel immediately.

NBA history tells us so.

[Coolbreeze44]

I agree with the analysis of Wiggins strengths and faults and disagree with the conclusions about his potential completely. His potential is still through the roof because of his athleticism. His stroke is sweet, which is a great foundation for superstardom. The weaknesses he is showing right now were all totally apparent before he was drafted. But he was touted as the number 1 pick because of potential. He is going to be great.

There are very very few certainties in the NBA. Especially the ones who don't excel immediately.

NBA history tells us so.

That's nonsense Abe. Kevin Love is a recent example.

[thedoper]

I agree with the analysis of Wiggins strengths and faults and disagree with the conclusions about his potential completely. His potential is still through the roof because of his athleticism. His stroke is sweet, which is a great foundation for superstardom. The weaknesses he is showing right now were all totally apparent before he was drafted. But he was touted as the number 1 pick because of potential. He is going to be great.

There are very very few certainties in the NBA. Especially the ones who don't excel immediately.

NBA history tells us so.

Isn't your certainty that the Wolves will trend to horrible? :) I think he has excelled. If I had said the rookie that we draft this year will be a 19 year old that competes for the rookie lead in ppg everyone would have signed up immediately. People are frustrated because of their expectations of a number #1 pick. He is contributing as a top rookie in a deep draft class after 20 games.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I keep thinking about Shawn Marion when I watch him play. They are different physically, but Marion was one of those "stiff" but really athletic players who could really contribute on both sides of the ball.

My big wariness is when we start talking about mental stuff. Lack of aggressiveness and whatnot. Those things don't change easily. McCants was an inherently selfish player, and could never get out of that mindset and it doomed him as a player. Dill was a lazy player who floated by habit and never changed it. I've ragged on Drew's handle plenty and rightfully so, but Qs right that Drew's lack of aggression is a real concern, and it is most apparent in his lack of cuts to the basket and running the floor in transition. He doesn't need to have the heart of Corey Brewer (not many guys do), but he definitely needs to be quicker and more assertive in those regards. It's like rebounding in a way. There's nothing physically stopping a lot of guys from getting rebounds other than the human tendency to just stand there and watch and wait to see if the ball will come to you. The great rebounders have somehow overcome that inclination and go after everything immediately. Drew needs to start running and cutting off the ball a little more like Love rebounds, and that's as much a mental shift as a physical one.

Still, 20 games. He's played well. It's not his fault he was the #1 pick and has all these expectations. He's played well, and deserves some kudos for that.

P.S. You guys should read and comment on Qs other analyses too. This is awesome stuff and we've got a lot of promising young guys, not just Wiggins.