Andrew Wiggins’ contract puts him in the top 30 highest-paid players in the NBA. His 2021-22 salary is the same as back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic and two-time MVP runner-up Joel Embiid.
For a one-time All-Star to be on the same level as two current top-10 NBA talents, many things have to go right. The story of how Wiggins secured a max contract in 2017 despite showing little in the way of becoming a player worthy of it is strange.
Drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 overall pick in 2014, Wiggins only spent a month in Cleveland. After, he was quickly jettisoned to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Kevin Love trade that brought Love to Cleveland to team up with LeBron James.
Instead of a high-pressure, win-now situation in Cleveland, Wiggins escaped to Minnesota, where the expectations were low, and he had plenty of breathing room to work on his game.
Historically, Minnesota is one of the worst-run teams in the NBA. Their front office needed something to sell to fans, and Wiggins was due for an extension anyways. Wishful thinking on the part of Minnesota’s management set the stage for a career-defining contract extension.
Glen Taylor: Andrew, look, do you absolutely promise to get better if we give you $150 MILLION dollars, completely guaranteed?
— Josh Eberley ?? (@JoshEberley) November 29, 2018
Andrew Wiggins: pic.twitter.com/gGv5KP4uFa
Andrew Wiggins is not the first young player to be saddled with unrealistic expectations the moment he walked into the league. But giving out a max contract after the Timberwolves barely won over 30 games once in a season? Ludicrous.
Andrew Wiggins Is The Second-Best Player On A Championship Team
How many players in the league do we look at them and think, “maybe they can’t be the guy, but they’d make a great number two.” Technically speaking, Andrew Wiggins is now a part of that group.
Andrew Wiggins is 6’8″ and 198 pounds. His wingspan measures seven feet, and his vertical was measured at 45 inches. His physical tools alone allow him to be a versatile defender in the NBA.
Aside from any star or superstar, Wiggins is the model for a high-level small forward. He has every tool, every skill, and because of that adds an extra dimension of versatility to the Warriors’ squad.
The basketball world continues to learn that Andrew Wiggins can do it all.
— Ball Don’t Stop (@balldontstop) June 11, 2022
Score, defend, rebound, pass, hustle and play off the ball. Dubs second best player right now. pic.twitter.com/9DIsJL98Wg
Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr has used Wiggins as a fix-all player in many of his lineups for this title team, and he has been the guy helping to cover up Golden State’s lack of overall size. Following that trend, Wiggins averaged the second-most minutes in the playoffs for the Warriors.
Andrew Wiggins will be an unrestricted free agent in 2023. Next season, he will make $33.6 million.
After next season, the free agency market will decide if Wiggins is finally worthy of his massive payroll. We will then find out if he gets even more money or will be forced to settle for less.
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