This is Andrew Wiggins last chance
The Former No. 1 overall pick has had a rocky career since being drafted in 2014. While he has shown glimpses of the talent he has, his overall production has been a disappointment. After being traded to the Golden State Warriors, Andrew Wiggins has one more chance to redeem himself.
What is wrong with Wiggins: When Wiggins was drafted, he was expected to be a Tracy McGrady/Kobe Bryant type of player. With elite athleticism and potential to be good on the defensive end, the hype was real as he was given the nickname “Maple Jordan”. Since coming into the league, he has been underwhelming to say the least. He came into the league with lackluster playmaking, defense, 3 point shooting and off ball abilities. He has shown minimal progress in any of these areas. This season, Wiggins is averaging a mediocre 1.45 assist-to-turnover ratio. His passing vision has slightly improved but he lags behind the playmaking abilities of the average NBA small forward. His defense is not great, as while he has the basic skills needed to be a solid defender, his awareness and consistency are poor at times. His catch and shoot 3 point percentage of 36% is average, but the amount of such attempts is low.
On paper, Wiggins is having a great season, averaging 22.4 points per game. But, this is also on nearly 19 shots a game, and on 44% shooting from the field, which isn’t impressive considering his inefficiencies. He is a one dimensional player, and has shown that he cannot play off-the-ball effectively in the past. During Jimmy Butler’s tenure, he was forced to play without being ball dominant and struggled to score efficiently and effectively, settling for low percentage mid ranges. After Butler’s departure, Wiggins showed no improvement and continued to play sub-par. His max contract extension will pay him $29,542,010 during the 2021 season, which is a massive overpay considering he has not played like a Max-contract player during any season in his career.
The Verdict: If Andrew Wiggins cannot evolve his game and fit into the Warrior’s system, most teams will not want to take on his terrible contract for a lackluster player. This is it for Wiggins. If Golden State does not trade him, this is his last chance to prove that he can be a good NBA player. His bad shot selection, 3 point shot, and defense must improve for him to succeed in The Bay and show that he is not a bust.
