2017 NBA Manifesto
Andrew Wiggins
SG/SF, 6’8, 199lbs, 22 years old, 3 years of experience
Given plenty of opportunity in the three years of his career thus far to prove he can do enough with the ball to be “the man”, Wiggins simply has not proven that. The scoring increases, but only because the volume does, and the increase in volume is coming largely from the mid-range area (perhaps in part because Thibodeau looooves a two-pointer off of a curl and always has), while the foul shots decrease. If Wiggins is not going to score efficiently even given his very high 29.0% usage rate, he could at least earn it back elsewhere, but this is not what is happening; Wiggins rebounds unnecessarily poorly, does not excel defensively, and has not improved much if at all as a ball handler. He also needs more than one spin move. Jimmy Butler is here now, to show Wiggins what he could be. But in doing so, he will also highlight what Wiggins isn’t.
Player Plan: One year of rookie scale salary remaining. Extension eligible this sum-mer, which is awkward, as he hasn’t earned it. Still, if that’s the price of doing business, so be it. He’ll have to earn it later. [NB: The Designated Player extension is Towns’s. Wiggins can get the four year one and like it.]
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SG/SF, 6’8, 199lbs, 22 years old, 3 years of experience
Given plenty of opportunity in the three years of his career thus far to prove he can do enough with the ball to be “the man”, Wiggins simply has not proven that. The scoring increases, but only because the volume does, and the increase in volume is coming largely from the mid-range area (perhaps in part because Thibodeau looooves a two-pointer off of a curl and always has), while the foul shots decrease. If Wiggins is not going to score efficiently even given his very high 29.0% usage rate, he could at least earn it back elsewhere, but this is not what is happening; Wiggins rebounds unnecessarily poorly, does not excel defensively, and has not improved much if at all as a ball handler. He also needs more than one spin move. Jimmy Butler is here now, to show Wiggins what he could be. But in doing so, he will also highlight what Wiggins isn’t.
Player Plan: One year of rookie scale salary remaining. Extension eligible this sum-mer, which is awkward, as he hasn’t earned it. Still, if that’s the price of doing business, so be it. He’ll have to earn it later. [NB: The Designated Player extension is Towns’s. Wiggins can get the four year one and like it.]