Andrew Wiggins unique path to the max contract discussion

Trying to map out Andrew Wiggins’ future and what it might turn out to be is a highly debatable topic. Is he worth the max contract that he is clamoring for?

Andrew Wiggins has been viewed as a prodigy since an age that most boys were worried about learning multiplication and not sounding stupid when talking to a girl. With those expectations being put on you at such a young age comes an immense amount of pressure. Dubbed as the next LeBron James, given the nickname Maple Jordan (due to his Canadian upbringing), and having his high school mix-tape receive over 6 million views on YouTube has put a target on his back since he was a teenager.

So far, Wiggins has satisfied these prodigal expectations. He was the top recruit in the nation as a senior in high school. Earned a scholarship to the prestigious basketball powerhouse Kansas. And was selected with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.

However, this is where the storybook narrative has been put on hold. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had to bolster a LeBron James reunion by flipping their new prize to the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves for proven star Kevin Love.

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He adjusted to his new surroundings rather well. Wiggins has won Rookie of the Year, averaged over 20 points-per-game in his career, and become a franchise centerpiece. Judging by that last sentence, one would guess that normally a max contract would be a given. But if we’ve learned anything about Andrew Wiggins, nothing surrounding how he’s viewed in the NBA is normal.

Current reputation.

Despite showing a rare ability to score the basketball, which is usually considered the highest sought-after skill in the NBA, he has received a polarizing reputation. Advanced analytics despise his contributions. His off-ball defense receives never-ending criticism. Every statistical category other than his scoring seems to be the butt of any Andrew Wiggins related joke.

Not only do his on court attributes receive questioning, but his demeanor has also been a theme when negatively analyzing him as a basketball player. He rarely shows emotion and his nonchalant personality rubs people the wrong way in an NBA world that eats up charisma (see: LaVar Ball).

But, even after all this, he has received endless praise from every coach he has had. Flip Saunders obviously saw the potential and thrust Wiggins to the top of the offensive pecking order as a rookie. Sam Mitchell seems to have never-ending positive words to say about him. The demanding Tom Thibodeau lauds his immense talent and work ethic. These thoughts seem to resonate throughout the NBA’s executives, and cast a confusing light on what Wiggins’ true value is.

Things to consider.

Andrew Wiggins has had three head coaches in three years. Think about that. Imagine being a 22-year-old in any profession who has had three bosses in each of your first three years on the job. Each of them bringing vastly different styles, strategies, and expectations. Now suppose you’ve still done your job fairly well, but you have millions of people criticizing every thing you don’t excel at instead of focusing on your strengths.

Well, if you can somehow imagine that scenario, this is what Andrew Wiggins has been put through in his first three seasons.

Let’s take Kawhi Leonard for example, a similar styled player with comparable physical gifts and skills. He was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs, who are vastly considered the model organization in the NBA. He started off as a role player in a stable environment, slowly expanded his game, and has blossomed into one of the best players in the league.

Moving to Andrew Wiggins now. Next year he is going to be a glorified role player on a talented team who finally has some stability. He should be able to expand his defensive game, with less of a burden to score and Jimmy Butler to guard the opponents’ best wing player. If he’s able to do this, it’s not hard to see him becoming one of the best players in the league.

Now read those last two paragraphs again. Do you sense a goal that is achievable in the minds of both Andrew Wiggins and the Timberwolves brain trust?

Fun tidbit: Kawhi started his ascent at the age of 23. Andrew will be entering his age 23-season this upcoming year.

Projections.

Wiggins has recently come out claiming he is worth “no less” than the max contract (a funny thing to think of, given Andrew’s affinity for being humble and soft-spoken). Although this seems like his agent putting words in his mouth, it is an interesting thing to ponder.

If you are going to ask Wiggins’ and his agent if they believe that he deserves a max contract because of what he’s done so far in his career, they probably couldn’t pass a polygraph test if they said yes. However, if you ask them when they project forward if Wiggins will be worth the money, it would be much more difficult to argue with an affirmative answer.

This is the difficult question to answer for Timberwolves executives. They no doubt have a better understanding than the average fan of what Wiggins’ makeup and work ethic is like. They also have many more resources to come to a more concrete conclusion on what to decide.

But in a league where versatile wing players who can score at an elite level are at a premium, it is difficult to argue that Andrew’s value isn’t extremely high. Having two of these players on the same roster with Wiggins’ and Jimmy Butler could be special. One more year in a stable environment, and under the tutelage of an elite player in Butler, could be the recipe for unlocking what Andrew Wiggins lofty ceiling will be.

Next: Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 goals for Andrew Wiggins

If you’re the Timberwolves, the curiosity of Andrew turning into a superstar could be very tough to pass up.