Will Andrew wiggins be a great player in the NBA?

[diablerouge]

he's going to get eaten alive at the 4. he can't deal with perry ellis right now. it's almost absurd to picture him defending against blake or klove.

Meanwhile on the other end he's too strong and big for SFs and too skilled for PFs

i'll just disagree.

[tiderulz]

how can anyone say right now. Look at Paul Georges first few years in the league. You wouldn't have guessed him to be the player now as he was his rookie year. College players play a college system, then come to the NBA, really hard to evaluate their entire future off 1 year.

[MagicTownBaller]

His name is Andrew FREAKING Wiggins... i mean, he's gonna own the league while destroying any competition... and anihilating any alien invasion that may or may not happen!

Lol nice Ender's Game reference!

[mickie]

Andrew Wiggins might as well retire even before going into the draft. This kid has been hyped and bashed on by everyone even before playing a single game in the NBA. he was the next big thing then not really to the point were he sucks and can't shoot and not even sure if he's gonna be drafted? ARE YOU FREAKIN' SERIOUS PEOPLE? Let the bashing go on, if this kid blows up in the NBA y'all gonna look like a buncha.. never mind.

[daschysta]

how can anyone say right now. Look at Paul Georges first few years in the league. You wouldn't have guessed him to be the player now as he was his rookie year. College players play a college system, then come to the NBA, really hard to evaluate their entire future off 1 year.

Paul George could really shoot even back in college, yes he has pretty sick handles for a guy his size now, something he had to, and Wiggins will have to develop after being drafted but PG shoots 38 percent from 3 on over 6 attempts per game. It's pretty difficult to develop your handles AND a wet J, and that's what Wiggins needs to do to be a great or very good scorer like George is this year. At the moment Wiggins best immediately translatable skill in the pros is his defense, which is great, but still a bit underwhelming for a likely top pick in a draft..

[tiderulz]

how can anyone say right now. Look at Paul Georges first few years in the league. You wouldn't have guessed him to be the player now as he was his rookie year. College players play a college system, then come to the NBA, really hard to evaluate their entire future off 1 year.

Paul George could really shoot even back in college, yes he has pretty sick handles for a guy his size now, something he had to, and Wiggins will have to develop after being drafted but PG shoots 38 percent from 3 on over 6 attempts per game. It's pretty difficult to develop your handles AND a wet J, and that's what Wiggins needs to do to be a great or very good scorer like George is this year. At the moment Wiggins best immediately translatable skill in the pros is his defense, which is great, but still a bit underwhelming for a likely top pick in a draft..

and yet his rookie year, PG shot 29% from 3.

[Kabookalu]

The thing about Wiggins is that he isn't squared on the aspects of basketball that most players with his following and age normally work on, and that's fundamental teamball. Usually you see young star players developing their ISO skills first and then playing within the context of an offense comes later. Not Wiggins.

[almatic]

Andrew Wiggins in the halfcourt game has been pretty average to below average. A lot of his pointscome from transition baskets.

I don't get these comments that says his game fits the NBA level so we should just ignore his college struggles. He's had a lot of subpar games against some not so good competition.

See: Russell Westbrook.
His whole college career was subpar & hurt his scouting profile. He turned out much better than the 'polished' OJ Mayo.

[Jazzfan12]

Andrew Wiggins in the halfcourt game has been pretty average to below average. A lot of his pointscome from transition baskets.

I don't get these comments that says his game fits the NBA level so we should just ignore his college struggles. He's had a lot of subpar games against some not so good competition.

See: Russell Westbrook.
His whole college career was subpar & hurt his scouting profile. He turned out much better than the 'polished' OJ Mayo.

Isn't he kind of the opposite of Westbrook though? Westbrook had limited opportunity because he had no hype whatsoever out of high school, Westbrook played for the coach that limited how good his players looked more than maybe anyone else. Wiggins is riding off massive hype and is playing for a coach that has produced bust after bust in the NBA.

[Warspite]

Well he seems better than his peers and many of todays stars are old. Someone has to be a great player. Hes not getting pushed by anyone in the 2013 draft class.

[Jvaughn]

Parker is the skilled one and Wiggins is the athletic one. Wiggins can develop skills. Unfortunately Parker cannot.

But unless Parker decides to take a few years off he'll always be ahead of Wiggins skill-wise.

This is why I tend to lean towards skill over athleticism in the draft. Young guys with skills will develop them further, while you're hoping the athletic guy can develop them at all. Obviously athleticism plays a part but all things considered I'd probably take Parker over Wiggins at this point.

jabari parker is derrick williams. not quick enough for the 3, not big enough for the 4. he won't be able to get by his man in the pros and can't guard anybody to save his life at the COLLEGE level.

This is one of the times when I wish there was a -1 feature on RealGM. There is no similarity in these players whatsoever.

[Jvaughn]

Parker is the skilled one and Wiggins is the athletic one. Wiggins can develop skills. Unfortunately Parker cannot.

Wing players with crap handles almost never become stars.

it's a myth that you can't improve your handles in the pros. anyone that has watched derozan try to dribble a basketball at usc could confirm that. even kevin durant used to eat his dribble under pressure a lot just a couple of years ago... now he's got defenders on skates when he pushes on the break.

What are you talking sbout? Derozan still has crap handles for an NBA wing.

[Damon_3388]

See: Russell Westbrook.
His whole college career was subpar & hurt his scouting profile. He turned out much better than the 'polished' OJ Mayo.

Lol, Westbrook's Draftexpress profile says it all - Best Case: Leandro Barbosa

[Mich3006]

Disagree. The GM who passes on Wiggins will be doing a ESPN:30 for 30 and explaining why he passed on Wiggins. He will be a great fit in the NBA. Worst-Case scenario is a player like DeMar DeRozan impact-wise.

Think exactly the same!
Most important for him is his 1st team. He needs a place to grow and to learn the NBA!
I hope Orlando could go for him, this would be the perfect franchise. A solid roster with no "true" franchise player, a good coaching staff and a wise guy as GM...

[Knighthonor]

Worst case, he's Harrison Barnes.

Extreme best case, he's Tmac.

I could take that risk as a top 3-5 pick. But number 1 pick?

[Knighthonor]

Andrew Wiggins in the halfcourt game has been pretty average to below average. A lot of his pointscome from transition baskets.

I don't get these comments that says his game fits the NBA level so we should just ignore his college struggles. He's had a lot of subpar games against some not so good competition.

See: Russell Westbrook.
His whole college career was subpar & hurt his scouting profile. He turned out much better than the 'polished' OJ Mayo.

So for every future draft, how do you distinguish the Russel Westbrook situation from the simply bad players?

[Ong_dynasty]

I always never understand why people make bold claims on the future ability of players.

Surely seeing busts and players ascending to all-stars from lower picks highlights its not easy / almost a lottery.

There are so many variables that play a role into how good a player will become.
From will he be able to learn x part of his game, which in turn will open up x
Will the coaching be good?
Will the player be put in a good situation?
Injures...

etc.

Does he have talent? sure..but this is the NBA, the players who are in the NBA are already at the .000002% of bball players in the world so they must have talent. does he have the potential to be a great player. ofcourse...
I think the question really should be, would you take him 1st?

[LakerLegend]

Haven't watched him play much but usually when these prodigal talents come along the consensus isn't wrong when they have the freak athleticism Wiggins does.

[pac213up]

I have not been all that impressed but I think his skills will translate well to the NBA level after a couple of seasons. I am always weary of guys that disappear for long stretches game after game, and that seems to be the case with Wiggins at this point. I would bet against him reaching the superstar level and out of the Top 5 or so picks I think he has the largest bust potential because of the hype they put on him.

[aol4532]

A lot is going to depend on his physical development. Paul George grew 1 or 2 inches, Davis grew 1.5 inches and 35 lbs(and they actually measured him all 3 years from 2010 to 2012), and I think Durant also grew, that makes a huge difference. For all intents and purposes, if a guy grows an inch and hence 10-15 lbs, then you can up his potential by 1 level.

Quite frankly, I would just go with the sure thing in Embrid. Watch his scouting video on youtube and you can see that he has almost no weaknesses. The guy is literally a Hakeem clone(and could grow even taller and heavier. The fact is, the human body doesn't really stop growing until 25, and that's only for now). If people went with Wiggins, then it could be a reverse Sam Bowie situation(I think Oden still could have been great if the Blazers hadn't mistreated his injuries, i.e. went with microfracture instead of repairing it). The league is in for an exciting era, that's for sure.