Wiggins overqualified as No. 3 option
No player endured the brunt of Klay Thompson’s absence this season more than Andrew Wiggins.
Before Thompson suffered a seasonending torn Achilles tendon in November, Wiggins was poised to be a complementary player — a combo forward who played off the ball, worked hard on defense and knocked down open 3pointers. But when news surfaced about the severity of Thompson’s injury, Wiggins suddenly was the Warriors’ most important player not named Stephen Curry or Draymond Green.
In addition to being a worthy No. 2 option to Curry, Wiggins — a soso defender much of his NBA career — had to guard opponents’ top scorers on a nearnightly basis. His response to such a challenge helped him continue to shed the reputation he developed with the Timberwolves as an overpaid ball hog whose effort was questioned.
Long derided for his inconsistency, Wiggins emerged as one of Golden State’s most dependable players. No one played — and started — as many games for Golden State as Wiggins did. Had head coach Steve Kerr not decided
to sit him for a meaningless May 14 win over the Pelicans, Wiggins would’ve appeared in all 72 games.
His shooting clips, 47.7% from the field and 38% from 3point range, were career highs. On defense, Wiggins blossomed into perhaps the
Warriors’ best onball defender other than Green. AllStarcaliber players such as Bradley Beal and Devin Booker struggled to find open looks against Wiggins. His careerhigh 70 blocks were 18 more than any other Golden State player.
But even as he enjoyed the
best season of his career on both sides of the court, he heard speculation that he could be dealt for a differencemaker. Wiggins, who’s set to earn $33.6 million next season, would be the most logical bigcontract player for the Warriors to include in a blockbuster trade.
And given that Golden State is deep into the luxury tax, it can’t sign an AllStarlevel player in free agency. Kerr was adamant this season, however, that the franchise views Wiggins as its longterm answer at small forward. His easygoing demeanor jibes well with the joyful Curry and the fiery Green.
Now, after shouldering a lot of responsibility with Thompson out, Wiggins is poised to become one of the league’s most overqualified No. 3 options. When Thompson returns early next season, Wiggins will be asked to be a better version of Harrison Barnes — a role he should have no problem executing.
Offseason outlook: Wiggins is being penciled into the starting lineup for 202122. But if a bigtime player such as Beal, the Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis or the Clippers’ Paul George becomes available, Golden State would have to at least consider including Wiggins to make the salaries match.