Indications suggest that the Golden State Warriors are likely to trade Andrew Wiggins in the upcoming 2024 NBA offseason. Dan Dibley, who discusses the team on his 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” radio show, anticipates that Wiggins will not be part of the Warriors roster for the 2024-25 season. Dibley expressed his belief on February 29, stating that Wiggins’ time with the team is likely at an end and they will likely part ways during the offseason.
Dibley’s remarks followed Wiggins taking an indefinite leave of absence on February 28 to attend to a “private matter,” as stated by the team. Consequently, Wiggins has been absent from Golden State’s last four games. With only 22 games remaining in the season, it’s uncertain whether he will return to the Bay Area team before the playoffs.
The possibility of Bruce Brown and Jakob Poeltl joining the Golden State Warriors?
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has crafted a hypothetical scenario suggesting a trade between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors, potentially involving Andrew Wiggins. In this proposed trade, the Warriors would send out Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, and a lottery-protected 2028 first-round pick in exchange for Bruce Brown and Jakob Poeltl, both of whom have previously won NBA championships.
Swartz highlighted why Bruce Brown and Jakob Poeltl would integrate smoothly into the Golden State Warriors lineup. He mentioned that Brown’s versatility allows him to adapt to various roles, whether as a starting forward or a sixth man capable of ball-handling, pick-and-roll execution, floor spacing, and solid defense. Additionally, acquiring Poeltl to anchor the center position full-time could help prolong Draymond Green’s career, given Poeltl’s skills as a rebounder, defender, and underrated passer.
If the speculative trade materializes, it would mark a homecoming for Andrew Wiggins, who has expressed his desire to play for his hometown team, the Toronto Raptors. In an interview with The Toronto Sun in July 2013, Wiggins stated his preference to join the Raptors, a sentiment expressed a year before he was selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It’s noteworthy that the Raptors acquired two Canadians, RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk, before the February 18 trade deadline. Adding Andrew Wiggins to the roster would further deepen the team’s connection with its passionate fanbase, providing another avenue for engagement and excitement within the Canadian basketball community.
A fresh start could potentially be beneficial for Andrew Wiggins
Despite Andrew Wiggins’ diminished trade value in recent times, the former No. 1 overall pick still holds potential value for a playoff-contending team. His notable performance during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, where he was often considered Golden State’s second-best player after Stephen Curry, particularly stands out. Wiggins received praise for his defensive prowess, notably against Celtics star Jayson Tatum in the 2022 NBA Finals, where Tatum struggled to shoot efficiently due to Wiggins’ defense, shooting only 36% from the field.
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Additionally, Andrew Wiggins had been showing signs of improvement just before he took his leave of absence. In February, he led the Warriors with a shooting percentage of 47.5% from three-point range. Earlier in the season, Wiggins had fluctuated in and out of Golden State’s starting lineup until coach Steve Kerr began utilizing him more for his defensive abilities.
Despite Andrew Wiggins being owed $84.7 million over the next three years, this could potentially be viewed as a bargain deal for the right team, considering the current NBA landscape. Moreover, a fresh start could be immensely beneficial for the 29-year-old Wiggins, who still possesses considerable talent and potential.
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