The Andrew Wiggins Thread

[theGreatRC]

Since we're discussing players Wiggins looks like, why not take a look at Paul George's rookie season highlights, most of them coming off of fast break dunks or other players setting up plays for him..and Paul was older his rookie season than Wiggy by a couple of years. Other plays include picking off steals for fastbreaks and some nice blocks, things Wiggins has already shown us in 3 games.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLWsLgqPGXU[/youtube]

Paul George rookie stats: 7.8ppg / 3.7rpg / 1.1 apg / 1.0spg / 0.4 bpg in 20.7 minutes

[Calinks]

My last post was more in jest than anything serious. I already said that right now, Wiggins gives me Wesley Johnson flashbacks but its' only 3 games. I'm not throwing the hammer down on what kind of players he can be by any means. I am saying I see the possibility of him being another Wesley (but even then I think he will be a rich man's because he can do something Wesley couldn't and still can't do) and my guard is slightly up.

By no means am I saying that's who is and were screwed. I'm not even making a real comparison. It's three games and a handful of pre-season games. With this limited data the main impression I get is I'd like to see more tenacity on the offensive end. I also don't like that I have read several times that he "needs something" to spark him to play great. We don't have a good track record with those kinds of guys.

He could play the next 3 games and look totally different. Time will tell and I will optimistically watch on.

[TMo519]

Not to belabor your non-comparison to Wes, but another thing he has going for him is more veteran support who can teach him and show him about being a professional in Williams, Martin, Thad, Pek, and even Rubio to a lesser extent. Wes's rookie year we had guys like Ridnour, Webster....can't even think of anyone else honestly.

I feel like Wiggins is in a much better situation to grow and progress than any of your younger guys ever were the previous years since KG, with the younger locker room. We've seen how bad it can go when you go all in on youth with no veterans to teach these guys anything. I hope we're finding the right process now with sprinkling in some proven vets to help the development of these guys.

[Vindicater]

Are you seriously comparing Wiggins to Wes Johnson.

I can't even see the vibe of it. Wiggins looks aggressive on defense and tentative on offensive. His offense though looks more like he is a 19 year old who does not want to make a mistake. Wes Johnson looked like a 22 year old who did not want to be there.

Add in the fact that Wiggins has stepped up to make big plays already and has fit into the system already and has at times looked to draw contact and make plays and we have a far superior player in only 3 games compared to nearly anything we saw from Wes the whole time he was here.

[GopherIt!]

but that smile...

[Calinks]

No! NO! NOOOOO!!!

[C.lupus]

At least Wiggins didn't smile after taking Butler's bait. He looked seriously pissed with himself. Wes would be on the bench with his stupid grin after that.

[Esohny]

Wiggins often looks kind of uncomfortable when he smiles like in that photo, versus Johnson who just grins like an idiot at all times. I hope that means that Wiggins isn't totally satisfied with being an embarrassment as an NBA player like Wes Johnson is.

[urinesane]

Wiggins isn't a soft player like Wes.

He's 19 and just joined a league full of men. It's going to take him a while to find his place, and not only that grow into himself as a person. The flashes I've seen already pretty much show a Super Star down the road, and nothing I've seen makes me worry about that not happening.

People like to act like players exist in a vacuum without any context whatsoever. Not just the 3 games thing, but he's a 19 year old kid who is now playing basketball as a paid PROFESSIONAL at the highest level in the world.

Maybe we should give him at least half a season as a pro before we even start to think about him not being assertive enough as a possible future issue? Give him a chance to find his bearings out there, no matter what physical tools a 19 year old may have, adjusting to the NBA takes time. Has any 19 year old rookie had the type of year people seem to be expecting out of Wiggins this year?

I remember when he was in trade rumors and we were telling Cavs fans that he would take at least 2-3 years for him to develop and help Lebron win a championship.

Now he's with the Wolves and he gets 2-3 games to prove himself?

You guys are like Scott Pilgrim...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqz_tbBr2ts[/youtube]

[urinesane]

At least Wiggins didn't smile after taking Butler's bait. He looked seriously pissed with himself. Wes would be on the bench with his stupid grin after that.

Does this sound like the type of thing Wes would say?

"I try to set goals with the person I'm guarding," Wiggins said. "I don't like when my man scores -- even when I'm on the bench and he scores, it makes me mad."

[Dewey]

holy jezuz ...reading some of these posts and knowing the poster seriously thinks they have a general clue is awesome. However, those trying the hardest come off looking the dumbest . We got therapists, pro scouts, coaches, and GM's all right here !!

[Flight33]

Wiggins is exactly like Paul George, slow start and all but bright future.

[King Malta]

Showed some brilliant aggression on the offensive end tonight, very impressed.

Like urinesane said, many of us (myself included) were telling the Cavs fans that Wiggins was going to take 2-3 to get anywhere near able to help Lebron take the Cavs to a title, and my opinion on that still stands now that he's playing for us.

Give the kid time, even half a season is too early to be judging in my opinion. He's going to make a lot of mistakes (like against CHI) but he's learning and people need to accept it's going to happen. He's already shown enough flashes at this stage for me to be pretty excited about what we've got here.

[Vindicater]

I think he will build from this game and put together a great first half of the season.

He will flag in the third quarter of the season and will then finish strong.

[southern wolf]

I don't mind the lack of assists early on. At least he's looking to attack and be 'the man' which we need.

[mcscotty]

This kid is special. Seems he expends much more effort and energy on D, which is rare for a player his age. This is a young and exciting team you guys have put together. Good luck this season. You deserve it.

[brutalitops]

He's getting some points up without having anyt offensive polish

I love the fact he's able to go into shot blockers and change his shot and hit the body,

[Downtown]

This might sound far fetched but if Wiggins can keep up the defensive intensity he's shown so far he has a shot at NBA all defensive team, at least the second team. How many 19 year olds come into the league and play perimeter defence like he does? None that I've seen in years.

[C.lupus]

Yeah...there's no Wes Johnson here. Different class altogether.

[wildvikeswolves]

Love this kid. he's a special one.

Still waiting for that first Wiggins alley oop. i dont think there has been one yet at least. there were a couple missed chances yesterday