Andrew Wiggins could be the Warriors’ odd man out
The Golden State Warriors season hasn’t gone to plan. The veteran-laden team has stumbled out of the gate and finds itself 12th in the Western Conference with a 17-19 record. Injuries, suspensions and players struggling to reach their usual production levels have hindered Steve Kerr‘s team over the opening months.
One player who has struggled more than most is Andrew Wiggins. The three-and-D wing came into the season as a core piece of Golden State’s championship puzzle. When he’s at his best, Wiggins is a fearsome wing defender who can punish defenses with his perimeter scoring and athleticism on the drive. So far, that hasn’t been the case.
Marc Stein addressed the situation in his SteinLine newsletter:
“Given the limited success Golden State has found when pairing Kuminga with Andrew Wiggins, there is a rising belief among rival teams that the Warriors are increasingly open to the idea of trading Wiggins, who was an integral component of their title run in 2022,” Stein reported. “The question persists: What sort of market exists for Wiggins, even though he possesses what is regarded as a team-friendly contract, so soon after he was relegated from the Warriors’ starting lineup? Wiggins, 28, is in Year 1 of a four-year, $109 million deal.”
Wiggins has played in 32 games for Golden State this season, averaging 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 42.2% from the field and just 29.7% from 3-point range. Despite his slump, there would undoubtedly be interested parties around the league.
Still, the Warriors could choose to stand pat and re-evaluate the situation at the end of the season. Yet, with just under a month remaining until the trade deadline, Mike Dunleavy Jr. has plenty of time to make a decision on Wiggins’ long-term future with the franchise.
