Minnesota Timberwolves roundtable: Kyrie Irving talk

2. Who has the higher ceiling- Andrew Wiggins or Kyrie Irving?

Dan: Andrew Wiggins has the higher ceiling. He will probably never be the scorer that Irving is, but he’s only 22. He has plenty of time to round out the rest of his game, where even a better version of Irving will basically be a souped-up scorer and, maybe, an above-average passer.

Defensive tools ultimately make the difference. At 6 feet 8 inches, Wiggins has the size and mobility to guard three different positions. He’s often clueless on that end. He’s been okay at times in one-on-one situations, but asking him to defend pick-and-roll ball-handlers and post-up sets is like pulling teeth. His propensity to lose track of orbiting shooters off the rock is also, shall we say, less than ideal.

Still, it’s easier to envision a scenario in which he becomes a plus defender. His athleticism and explosion off the bounce make it possible. And when you factor in his improved shooting—he canned more than 40.5 percent of his spot-up threes last year, which is a big deal—there’s at least a semi-discernible path to him becoming a two-player who can compliment anyone he’s running alongside.

That’s just not going to happen for Irving, no matter how much he improves on the offensive end. He’s a good size (6-foot-3) at point guard, but his pick-and-roll and off-ball defense are worse than Wiggins’ at the moment.

When dealing with two talented but imperfect players, you roll with the younger one’s ceiling, in hopes he’ll have more time to iron out his wrinkles. And when that player, again, just so happens to have the physical tools to fill out the most glaring gaps in his game, the decision is a no-brainer.

Max: For me, this is a loaded question. To start, I will say that Wiggins has the higher ceiling. A big part of that is because we have seen much more from Irving than we have of the current third option for Minnesota.

The man from Duke has been to three straight NBA finals and won one. He is also a four-time All-Star, was named to the 2014-15 All-NBA team, and won gold in Brazil with team USA. He is one of the best finishers at the rim in the NBA and he can score from anywhere. He has shown the ability to take and make big shots, most famously the step back three he hit to seal the victory for Cleveland in game seven of the Finals two years ago. Irving is an elite NBA player and you know what you are getting when you get him on your team.

The same can’t be said for Wiggins. He has shown the ability to put the ball in the basket, that’s for sure. He has increased his scoring average every year by at least two points a game over his three-year career. Almost every other part of his game has left much to be desired. The former Jayhawk’s individual defensive ranking was among the worst in the NBA, ranking him with the likes of Nick Young of Golden State and former Wolf Shabazz Muhammad. On the offensive side of the ball, Wiggins does little more than score. He has only averaged two assists and four rebounds a game for his career.

While Wiggins is not at the level of an Irving yet, there is no reason to think he can’t make it there. With his age, length, and athleticism, anything is possible. With his scoring average increasing every season, we know he has the ability to grow his game leaps and bounds. Plus, with Butler coming into town, he can learn tons about being a playmaker and a defensive stopper. The sky’s the limit for the former rookie of the year, he just has to reach out and grab it.

Ethan: When it comes to trading Wiggins for Irving, the only question is: Just how good can Andrew Wiggins be? Many believe we have more than likely seen the best Irving has to offer, which is premier point guard skills, some of the best handles in recent memory, the ability to shoot from three, arguably the best finishing under the hoop skills in the league and not to mention the clutch gene that is something unteachable and unreachable for some.

Wiggins has shown he can be clutch at times, but Minnesota never found themselves in many situations where he could put that ability on display.  Both have glaring holes in their defensive game, but Wiggins can do nearly everything Irving can, minus running the point, which isn’t his job. Wiggins can shoot anywhere on the court and has steadily made improvements from behind the arch. He also has the ability to rise up over defenders at the rim and make opponents pay for giving him a glimpse at the paint.

Irving just turned 25 and has been in the league for six years, while Wiggins is still 22 and has been in the league half as long. Now with a full season with Tom Thibodeau at the helm and being put alongside arguably the best two-way player in the league in Jimmy Butler, Wiggins has the chance to unlock his potential on the defensive end and become a player mentioned in the same breath as Butler, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

It seems like insurmountable odds are stacked against the former Jayhawk with the additions undoubtedly taking away some of his looks on the offensive end, but now is Wiggins’ time to shine. All it takes is one season and the Wolves could have two of the best wing players in the league at their disposal.