The Wiggins Problem

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

*whispers*

The third option would have been to flip him and his perceived potential to a rebuilding team needing to sell hope to a fan base in exchange for their All-Star talent...

I know, I know, I really need to stop bringing it up, but the Wiggins v. LaVine debate will live on for a very long time I believe. I also think, based on reporting from Jon K and Wolfson, that Chicago would have traded Butler for Wiggins and whatever salary filler might have been needed.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

*whispers*

The third option would have been to flip him and his perceived potential to a rebuilding team needing to sell hope to a fan base in exchange for their All-Star talent...

I know, I know, I really need to stop bringing it up, but the Wiggins v. LaVine debate will live on for a very long time I believe. I also think, based on reporting from Jon K and Wolfson, that Chicago would have traded Butler for Wiggins and whatever salary filler might have been needed.

So the fact that Wiggins and filler straight up for Butler gets the deal done, but Zach had to be paired with Dunn and a top 10 pick doesn't tell you anything? I really liked Zach too, but he's a glorified version of Jamal Crawford.

[TAFKASP]

Lots of negativity here, and I like it! Wiggins is going to be the lightning rod that Rubio was. He'll always have a few defenders and a bunch of negative Nancies who will sadly be correct. I would not hesitate to trade him now before his value falls off and that contract become the noose that keeps the Wolves from ever unloading him and contending.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

While speculation and woulda-shouldas are kind of what we do here, the reality is Wiggins isn't going anywhere; Thibs is too invested in him. Also, I sympathize a bit with Thibs here because Wiggins is tantalizing. Thibs was probably drooling at the mis-match opportunities created by having Wiggins and Butler together on the wings.

I'm sure Wiggins will break out of his shooting slump at some point. Every player has ups and downs. The problem is his ups aren't frequent enough to make up for his downs and the result is nearly 3.5 seasons of mediocre to average effectiveness for an NBA starting wing. His salary slot absolutely requires him to be more than Rudy Gay 2.0 I'm not seeing it.....

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

*whispers*

The third option would have been to flip him and his perceived potential to a rebuilding team needing to sell hope to a fan base in exchange for their All-Star talent...

I know, I know, I really need to stop bringing it up, but the Wiggins v. LaVine debate will live on for a very long time I believe. I also think, based on reporting from Jon K and Wolfson, that Chicago would have traded Butler for Wiggins and whatever salary filler might have been needed.

So the fact that Wiggins and filler straight up for Butler gets the deal done, but Zach had to be paired with Dunn and a top 10 pick doesn't tell you anything? I really liked Zach too, but he's a glorified version of Jamal Crawford.

I never said LaVine's trade value was higher, or even equal to, Wiggins' despite being the better basketball player, especially not coming off an injury.

And I'm sorry, but Crawford never had the efficiency that LaVine has with his game already. In fact, Zach's TS% of .576 last season is higher than any season from Jamal. That's primarily why I don't like that comparison despite the flashy handles and tough shot-making abilities they both share.

I'll leave it at this. I'm convinced Zach wants to be great and has the alpha within him to go be that, or at least fail honorably. The same can be said for Karl-Anthony, though he's more of a "sure thing" than Zach. Andrew has always seemed content with just being invited to the party.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDSxgDUv-c

[KiwiMatt]

Sure the statistics don't show it, but I have noticed an improvement with Wigs defense this year. He's playing smarter and more aggressively (at times). The biggest problem is his motor and getting him to fire every game. Whats made it worse is he now third in the pecking order behind KAT and Butler, where he can get away with it a lot more. And that could be the biggest problem. He just doesn't have enough of an all round game to play that 3rd man role successfully.

I also think he is struggling to fit in offensively. With the additions of Teague and Butler he's not getting the ball in his hands nearly as often as previous seasons, and when he does its often not in the ideal situation i.e late in the shot clock. This team still has a noticeable lack of chemistry on both ends of the court. But hey it's not all doom and gloom, we are 5 games above .500 and we haven't even scratched the surface of our potential.

A trade I thought of the other day is Wiggins to IND for Oladipo, but I'm not sure either team would do it.

[Monster]

*whispers*

The third option would have been to flip him and his perceived potential to a rebuilding team needing to sell hope to a fan base in exchange for their All-Star talent...

I know, I know, I really need to stop bringing it up, but the Wiggins v. LaVine debate will live on for a very long time I believe. I also think, based on reporting from Jon K and Wolfson, that Chicago would have traded Butler for Wiggins and whatever salary filler might have been needed.

So the fact that Wiggins and filler straight up for Butler gets the deal done, but Zach had to be paired with Dunn and a top 10 pick doesn't tell you anything? I really liked Zach too, but he's a glorified version of Jamal Crawford.

I never said LaVine's trade value was higher, or even equal to, Wiggins' despite being the better basketball player, especially not coming off an injury.

And I'm sorry, but Crawford never had the efficiency that LaVine has with his game already. In fact, Zach's TS% of .576 last season is higher than any season from Jamal. That's primarily why I don't like that comparison despite the flashy handles and tough shot-making abilities they both share.

I'll leave it at this. I'm convinced Zach wants to be great and has the alpha within him to go be that, or at least fail honorably. The same can be said for Karl-Anthony, though he's more of a "sure thing" than Zach. Andrew has always seemed content with just being invited to the party.

Cam I'm probably on board with a lot of what you say in these posts but something I have to consider is that's Thibs is a no nonsense Basketball junky and he had Wiggins as basically off limits in that deal. It lends me to think he has some observations about Wiggins that make him think he can be more than a party invite. It's not like smart long time Basketball people can be wrong but yeah.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Just out of curiosity, if you were Thibs and and could acquire Paul George at the trade deadline -- or before -- with some sort of promise to re-sign in Minnesota for four-years, $131.6M... and the price was Andrew Wiggins... would you make it happen?

Better player, better fit, volume 3P shooting need, better defender, more proven... Unfortunately he's 27, but the idea would be to go all in with this kind of move.

Why would George re-sign? Jimmy Butler, for starters. Everyone loved him on Team USA from what I've read. George constantly worked out with Karl-Anthony Towns this past summer so perhaps there's a good relationship there. And shit, I think that threesome would compete with anybody's in the West.

Maybe in NBA 2K this happens, but what are your thoughts?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Cam, The answer is hell yeah, but that assumes everything you mentioned with the assurances to re-sign, etc. Of course we really don't know if he would have done that.

Once we moved all those assets to get Butler, I felt like we immediately leaped from "re-building with youth" to "win now" mode. If we could have swapped out Wiggins for George, knowing he'd re-sign with us, you'd have to make that move.

It is weird how OKC hasn't been able to put it together. They have the #2 rated defense in the NBA and George is playing pretty damn well for them. I have to believe they eventually get into the playoff picture. And that's somewhat of a good thing for us since it means we would get their draft pick this offseason!