Young Wolves Players About to Take Major Leap Forward

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

One small problem with the Andrew Wiggins angle is that he actually was used as a complimentary player in Minnesota and he all but shut down. We got to see him as the third banana next to Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns and it was arguably his worst season as a professional basketball player. He was expected to compete defensively, space the floor, get out in transition, and have opportunities to slash off the catch. He just failed to do any of that at the same level he did in Golden State. Part of that could be coaching. Another part could be culture or the organization's expectation to win. But ultimately it falls on the player. Wiggins wasn't going to be successful in Minnesota regardless of how he was utilized.

[Lipoli390]

One small problem with the Andrew Wiggins angle is that he actually was used as a complimentary player in Minnesota and he all but shut down. We got to see him as the third banana next to Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns and it was arguably his worst season as a professional basketball player. He was expected to compete defensively, space the floor, get out in transition, and have opportunities to slash off the catch. He just failed to do any of that at the same level he did in Golden State. Part of that could be coaching. Another part could be culture or the organization's expectation to win. But ultimately it falls on the player. Wiggins wasn't going to be successful in Minnesota regardless of how he was utilized.

Cam - You sort of pulled the rug out from under my thesis. :)

[Q-is-here]

One small problem with the Andrew Wiggins angle is that he actually was used as a complimentary player in Minnesota and he all but shut down. We got to see him as the third banana next to Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns and it was arguably his worst season as a professional basketball player. He was expected to compete defensively, space the floor, get out in transition, and have opportunities to slash off the catch. He just failed to do any of that at the same level he did in Golden State. Part of that could be coaching. Another part could be culture or the organization's expectation to win. But ultimately it falls on the player. Wiggins wasn't going to be successful in Minnesota regardless of how he was utilized.

Cam - You sort of pulled the rug out from under my thesis. :)

Lip, Also keep in mind that the Wolves coaching staff had to try to use him as the potential next Michael Jordan early on to see if he had the capability. That's typically what you do with #1 picks on rebuilding teams. By the time it was clear he was NOT going to be a top banana, they tried the 3rd banana route as Cam articulates above. Well, that didn't work either.

Fortunately for Wiggins, the 3rd/4th banana did work in Golden State. But the planets aligned perfectly for him - Culture, fit, surrounding players and coaches, etc. And by the way, things only really clicked for him in this recent title run. There were a lot of Golden State fans that weren't sold on him even up to that point. But he really proved to be a key factor for them in winning the Title.

I personally think we will see a very underwhelming version of Wiggins in this upcoming regular season. We know he gets pretty bored and ambivalent throughout the regular course of the season, with the exception of "revenge" games. But I could see him stepping it up again in the playoffs, as he definitely has an ON switch.

[Lipoli390]

One small problem with the Andrew Wiggins angle is that he actually was used as a complimentary player in Minnesota and he all but shut down. We got to see him as the third banana next to Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns and it was arguably his worst season as a professional basketball player. He was expected to compete defensively, space the floor, get out in transition, and have opportunities to slash off the catch. He just failed to do any of that at the same level he did in Golden State. Part of that could be coaching. Another part could be culture or the organization's expectation to win. But ultimately it falls on the player. Wiggins wasn't going to be successful in Minnesota regardless of how he was utilized.

Cam - You sort of pulled the rug out from under my thesis. :)

Lip, Also keep in mind that the Wolves coaching staff had to try to use him as the potential next Michael Jordan early on to see if he had the capability. That's typically what you do with #1 picks on rebuilding teams. By the time it was clear he was NOT going to be a top banana, they tried the 3rd banana route as Cam articulates above. Well, that didn't work either.

Fortunately for Wiggins, the 3rd/4th banana did work in Golden State. But the planets aligned perfectly for him - Culture, fit, surrounding players and coaches, etc. And by the way, things only really clicked for him in this recent title run. There were a lot of Golden State fans that weren't sold on him even up to that point. But he really proved to be a key factor for them in winning the Title.

I personally think we will see a very underwhelming version of Wiggins in this upcoming regular season. We know he gets pretty bored and ambivalent throughout the regular course of the season, with the exception of "revenge" games. But I could see him stepping it up again in the playoffs, as he definitely has an ON switch.

I agree with all of that, Q. There's never been a moment when I've wanted Wiggins back on this team.

[Monster]

One small problem with the Andrew Wiggins angle is that he actually was used as a complimentary player in Minnesota and he all but shut down. We got to see him as the third banana next to Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns and it was arguably his worst season as a professional basketball player. He was expected to compete defensively, space the floor, get out in transition, and have opportunities to slash off the catch. He just failed to do any of that at the same level he did in Golden State. Part of that could be coaching. Another part could be culture or the organization's expectation to win. But ultimately it falls on the player. Wiggins wasn't going to be successful in Minnesota regardless of how he was utilized.

Cam - You sort of pulled the rug out from under my thesis. :)

Lip, Also keep in mind that the Wolves coaching staff had to try to use him as the potential next Michael Jordan early on to see if he had the capability. That's typically what you do with #1 picks on rebuilding teams. By the time it was clear he was NOT going to be a top banana, they tried the 3rd banana route as Cam articulates above. Well, that didn't work either.

Fortunately for Wiggins, the 3rd/4th banana did work in Golden State. But the planets aligned perfectly for him - Culture, fit, surrounding players and coaches, etc. And by the way, things only really clicked for him in this recent title run. There were a lot of Golden State fans that weren't sold on him even up to that point. But he really proved to be a key factor for them in winning the Title.

I personally think we will see a very underwhelming version of Wiggins in this upcoming regular season. We know he gets pretty bored and ambivalent throughout the regular course of the season, with the exception of "revenge" games. But I could see him stepping it up again in the playoffs, as he definitely has an ON switch.

I agree with all of that, Q. There's never been a moment when I've wanted Wiggins back on this team.

I agree with everything said except I do think Wiggins has reached a more consistent level of being a solid player night in night out. Are we gonna see Finals Wiggins every night? No but we aren't gonna see a guy asleep at the wheel as much either.

Wiggins fit and all that kind of stuff was good for him. It might be worth wondering if there are players on the Wolves roster that can benefit from the Wolves current roster coaching etc. for the most part I think this current roster fits much better than any I have seen in a while. Some people don't think the Gobert and Towns frontcourt will work but I think it makes a lot of sense. Naz might be the one guy I'm not sure where he fits but he could also be a guy that benefits from other players around him...if he can get on the floor.

[Lipoli390]

One small problem with the Andrew Wiggins angle is that he actually was used as a complimentary player in Minnesota and he all but shut down. We got to see him as the third banana next to Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns and it was arguably his worst season as a professional basketball player. He was expected to compete defensively, space the floor, get out in transition, and have opportunities to slash off the catch. He just failed to do any of that at the same level he did in Golden State. Part of that could be coaching. Another part could be culture or the organization's expectation to win. But ultimately it falls on the player. Wiggins wasn't going to be successful in Minnesota regardless of how he was utilized.

Cam - You sort of pulled the rug out from under my thesis. :)

Lip, Also keep in mind that the Wolves coaching staff had to try to use him as the potential next Michael Jordan early on to see if he had the capability. That's typically what you do with #1 picks on rebuilding teams. By the time it was clear he was NOT going to be a top banana, they tried the 3rd banana route as Cam articulates above. Well, that didn't work either.

Fortunately for Wiggins, the 3rd/4th banana did work in Golden State. But the planets aligned perfectly for him - Culture, fit, surrounding players and coaches, etc. And by the way, things only really clicked for him in this recent title run. There were a lot of Golden State fans that weren't sold on him even up to that point. But he really proved to be a key factor for them in winning the Title.

I personally think we will see a very underwhelming version of Wiggins in this upcoming regular season. We know he gets pretty bored and ambivalent throughout the regular course of the season, with the exception of "revenge" games. But I could see him stepping it up again in the playoffs, as he definitely has an ON switch.

I agree with all of that, Q. There's never been a moment when I've wanted Wiggins back on this team.

I agree with everything said except I do think Wiggins has reached a more consistent level of being a solid player night in night out. Are we gonna see Finals Wiggins every night? No but we aren't gonna see a guy asleep at the wheel as much either.

Wiggins fit and all that kind of stuff was good for him. It might be worth wondering if there are players on the Wolves roster that can benefit from the Wolves current roster coaching etc. for the most part I think this current roster fits much better than any I have seen in a while. Some people don't think the Gobert and Towns frontcourt will work but I think it makes a lot of sense. Naz might be the one guy I'm not sure where he fits but he could also be a guy that benefits from other players around him...if he can get on the floor.

Hard to fall asleep at the wheel when you have Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson sitting right next to you and ready to kick your ass if you do. Even then, I still think Andrew will dose off more often than he should or at least get caught daydreaming every now and then. However, who knows, maybe he's changed. Anything's possible. Fact is, he looked really good in the playoffs this past season. And he had a really good season. Is it sustainable? It will be interesting to watch and see. Nevertheless, while I didn't like the DLO deal, I'm happy Wiggins isn't here. He wouldn't fit and I still don't trust him to be consistently dialed in.

[thedoper]

Id take Wiggins back on this team as currently constructed. Hed be a big upgrade at the 3. The problem with Wiggins was always that he was a number 1 pick. 3rd or 4th banana was what he was. No shame in that at all. Good player at that spot, bad #1 option.

[Q-is-here]

Id take Wiggins back on this team as currently constructed. Hed be a big upgrade at the 3. The problem with Wiggins was always that he was a number 1 pick. 3rd or 4th banana was what he was. No shame in that at all. Good player at that spot, bad #1 option.

So what you are saying is that you would take him over McDaniels? I agree that if you remove things like age, potential, team fit and salary considerations, Wiggins is currently the better player. But who is the more valuable asset and who is a better fit given the other players on the team is a whole other question.

[FNG]

Id take Wiggins back on this team as currently constructed. Hed be a big upgrade at the 3. The problem with Wiggins was always that he was a number 1 pick. 3rd or 4th banana was what he was. No shame in that at all. Good player at that spot, bad #1 option.

So what you are saying is that you would take him over McDaniels? I agree that if you remove things like age, potential, team fit and salary considerations, Wiggins is currently the better player. But who is the more valuable asset and who is a better fit given the other players on the team is a whole other question.

It's a fun theoretical question, Q. As much as I love Jaden's potential, I side with Doper here. Wig really showed me something last season when he emerged as the best defensive stopper on a championship team, while also being a reliable 3rd option on offense. Wig is miles ahead of Jaden right now, but of course we also expect Jaden to improve. And if he approaches a level anywhere near Andrew Wiggins during the Gobert era (as a 4th or 5th option on this team), you can start planning the championship parade route down Hennepin Avenue.

[Q-is-here]

Id take Wiggins back on this team as currently constructed. Hed be a big upgrade at the 3. The problem with Wiggins was always that he was a number 1 pick. 3rd or 4th banana was what he was. No shame in that at all. Good player at that spot, bad #1 option.

So what you are saying is that you would take him over McDaniels? I agree that if you remove things like age, potential, team fit and salary considerations, Wiggins is currently the better player. But who is the more valuable asset and who is a better fit given the other players on the team is a whole other question.

It's a fun theoretical question, Q. As much as I love Jaden's potential, I side with Doper here. Wig really showed me something last season when he emerged as the best defensive stopper on a championship team, while also being a reliable 3rd option on offense. Wig is miles ahead of Jaden right now, but of course we also expect Jaden to improve. And if he approaches a level anywhere near Andrew Wiggins during the Gobert era (as a 4th or 5th option on this team), you can start planning the championship parade route down Hennepin Avenue.

Wiggins was solid in the regular season, not great. And to hopefully stir up emotions, I'd argue that DLO had a better year than Wiggins in terms of the regular season. Or at least equivalent in terms of overall impact to team results. And DLO is set to be our 3rd option offensively assuming he continues to yield more shots to Ant, KAT, and now an elite roll man in Gobert (vs. Vando).

That being said, I think Wiggins might be one of these guys whose value skyrockets once you get deep into the playoffs. The reason is that these long, drawn out series basically eliminate any scheme advantages eventually and hones in on the opposing teams' weakest links. Ultimately it comes down to having players that can't be exploited on either end of the floor. And athletic 6"8 wings that can defend, make smart cuts, and make shots when needed are absolute gold. They simply can't be exploited. Look at Chris Paul and Luka Doncic. Both these guys got picked on and somewhat exploited...over and over again. This simply doesn't happen in the regular season. Wiggins can't be targeted in this way.

BTW, this is definitely not a great analogy because Wiggins has better offensive creation skills, but Robert Horry comes to mind as a guy that was a solid-ish rotation player in the regular season, but then suddenly became super, super important in the playoffs. Could that be Wiggins?