noobcake wrote:richboy wrote:Illmatic12 wrote:Compared to most shotcreating wings in the NBA, Wiggins has a subpar handle.
If you're drafting a player like Wiggins with a top 2 pick, yes the defense and athleticism in transition is great. But you're expecting him to eventually be able to create his own shot and carry a team offensively. I don't see how he'll be able to do that without seriously improving his ballhandling ability. You just don't see players with poor handle and a shaky jumper becoming bigtime scorers
He could potentially become a 20ppg scorer, but he's a LONG way off from that right now. He will have to put in a lot of work.
Thing is Wiggins does have a handle. He not an elite handle but it doesn't have to be elite. Similar to Durant his first step and length are so good he gets around opponents. He actually has NBA level step back and 2 dribble pull ups.
Durant's handle was never an issue. Wiggins' handles are highly deficient compared to most superstar wing players at the same age.
In 1996 they said Kobe Bryant didn't have a true position and had a questionable handle. When Michael Jordan entered the league people questioned the idea if he had the handle to play the second guard. One of the big issues when projecting players at the NBA level is realizing the difference in the NBA game compared to college and high school. At the lower level perimeter players are often guarded by smaller defenders with less space and lanes to drive. This isn't always a positive. Nobody ever questions Kevin Durant's ball handling? He get stripped constantly and his inability to handle against guys like Chris Paul and Tony Allen are a big reason why he has struggled against smaller defenders. Against players his size he is fine. This is not unique to Kevin Durant.
Now if we were talking about a SG prospect I would be a little more concerned about his ball handling. For the SF position people are way over blowing his perceived lack of a handle. This is not a guard position. Rudy Gay has little ball handling ability and he a 20 point per game scorer. For someone to say Wiggins can't score 20 is ridiculous. Luol Deng has been near 20 PPG and not even close to Wiggins in ball handling.
This is a forward position. Some of the best small forwards in league history didn't have great handle. Unless your comparing him to Lebron James he has plenty enough handle to be more than successful. Marvin Williams and Harrison Barnes had almost no shot creating ability at all. They were not doing this.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXt5JtlWnps#t=167[/youtube]
He has multiple moves in that one game alone that I'm still waiting to see from Barnes. Wiggins floor is a much better Rudy Gay. In that he has all his athleticism but a better handle and a better jump shot. I would not pass on Wiggins. His first step is insane. He may not be an amazing shot creator but he has as much as Paul George has. He has prime Gerald Wallace ability on defense. Another guy with no creating ability who at his peak was near 20ppg. Not nearly as skilled as Wiggins.
"Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful." John Wooden
