weekend_warrior wrote:sonnyhill wrote:On another thread, the discussion had touched upon Wiggins's current level of play and him still not peaking-and-still with upside.
Can "Winning a Wiggins Trade" also include not trading Wiggins, and instead, further developing his game (mid-range, catch-and-shoot, initiate the offense from the small forward position, and play some minutes as a small-stretch 4)?
As we watch the current playoffs (painful not to see the Warriors competing) and the injuries taking its toll on each team, Wiggins's availability and durability make him even more valuable. Also, I highly doubt we would ever hear the words "load management" during the regular season with regards to Wiggins.
I have no problem with that at all. I am not sold on players like Siakam, I see marginal improvement at best. That's not worth adding any significant assets from GSW's side. Especially as Wiggins is more clearly a wing and fills the bigger need for GSW.
Wiggins imho needs to make another incremental step forward, similar as the past season, to be neutral value on that contract. Solidify his 3p% (had the best 3p%, eFG% and TS% of his career), improve a bit on his awareness in a team defense concept off-ball (his on-ball defense is elite), get his FT% up a little... It's far from impossible. I hope he works his b*** off this summer.
Either way, he's a very functional player for GSW. And the trajectory is rather going up than down. There is no pressure to do any deals that aren't clearly bringing back better players.
If you look at Wiggins time with the Warriors he's gotten a partial step better month by month. He was really playing well on both ends down the stretch like he's finally getting comfortable. If he can be consistent this coming year like he was down the stretch he's essentially there.
If you look at other SF players making around that $30M number Hayward, Porter, and Middleton ... I think I would prefer Wiggins already.
