Warriors: Analyzing the team’s 3 biggest offseason questions
By Dalton Sell
1. Is Andrew Wiggins the answer at small forward?
The departure of Kevin Durant last offseason left the Warriors with a gaping hole at the small forward position, one that Andrew Wiggins has the potential to fill.
The 24-year-old did not get a genuine chance to showcase his talents with Golden State as he only played in 12 games before the season halted.
Throughout that small sample size of games, Wiggins averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The forward performed well on defense also, as he averaged 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
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Overall, Wiggins looked good since coming over via trade, but is he in the Warriors’ long-term plans? Nothing is evident at the moment, but many have speculated that the team could flip Wiggins and their first-round pick for an established star.
While the idea of that might seem entertaining, the Warriors should avoid doing so as it could turn into a major mistake. For his entire career, Andrew Wiggins has served as the first or second option and has played for a below-average team.
Playing alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson would undoubtedly elevate Wiggins’ play, and possibly even elevate him to star status.
Becoming the third option would undoubtedly take some of the pressure off Wiggins. Playing in a winning culture among several future Hall of Fame players is precisely what the forward needed at this point in his career, and at just 24-years-old, Wiggins still has a very long career ahead of him.
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The Warriors should undoubtedly hold onto Wiggins and give him the chance to play alongside everyone when healthy just to see what that group is capable of achieving.