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Andrew Wiggins

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http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/270625161.html

Long article on Wiggins that includes this passage:
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Andrew Wiggins: The next big thing?
Article by: KENT YOUNGBLOOD , Star Tribune
Updated: August 9, 2014 - 7:38 PM


.....

According to Kansas coach Bill Self, Wiggins is the best natural athlete who has ever played for him.

“Ben McLemore was a freak,” Self said. “Brandon Rush was unbelievable. But when Andrew is turned up? He can do things athletically nobody else can do.”

The Wolves, rebuilding again, will likely give him all the room and opportunity he needs to grow.

“That’s the way he sees it,” Self said. “He’s happy. Don’t anybody feel sorry for him. I’m not saying he hasn’t been in limbo and that it hasn’t, at times, been frustrating. But he told me, ‘Coach, I’m good with this.’ He told me that two weeks ago.’’

...
 
Now we get to accurately assess Jabari vs. Wiggins for their careers as cornerstones of a franchise. Wiggins can't hide in the shadows of LeBron, Kyrie, and Dion. Wiggins is really going to struggle.

With Rubio feeding him no look lobs I'm sure he will be alright.
 
Self: Wiggins wants to join Wolves
Updated: August 10, 2014, 2:40 PM ET
ESPN.com news services
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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Andrew Wiggins told Kansas coach Bill Self that he wants to be traded from Cleveland to Minnesota because the No. 1 overall pick believes it will be better for his long-term future.

Wiggins joined his former coach as a guest instructor at Self's basketball camp in suburban Kansas City on Sunday. And while Wiggins declined to speak to the few reporters at Shawnee Mission West High School, Self said the rookie wants to carve out his own legacy in the NBA.

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Bill Self, who coached Andrew Wiggins at Kansas, says the soon-to-be-traded Wiggins is excited to go to Minnesota.
"When all this trade stuff started, I talked to Andrew and Andrew told me, 'I hope I get traded,'" Self said. "And I'm like, 'No you don't.' And he said, 'Coach, I do. It's better for me, knowing my personality and what I need to do, to go somewhere where I'm forced to be something as opposed to going in there where they're going to be patient with me and I'm going to be a piece.'"

Earlier this week, ESPN.com and several other outlets reported a deal has been reached to send Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick to Minnesota for All-Star forward Kevin Love, who will join LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to form a new "Big 3" in Cleveland.

The deal cannot be consummated until Aug. 23, when Wiggins is eligible to be traded.

Self said that he initially thought everything worked out perfectly for Wiggins, who would have a chance to win immediately in Cleveland. But he also saw Wiggins' point: The low-key, soft-spoken swingman could fare better if he's carrying the weight of a franchise.

That would never have happened if Wiggins was playing in James' lengthy shadow.

"Even though in a weird way everybody would love the opportunity to play with LeBron because you're guaranteed winning," Self said, "for the longevity of his career, he needs to develop that mindset to be the guy, for him to be great, and I think being Minnesota will help him do that."

Wiggins, who set numerous freshman records during his lone season with the Jayhawks, also appears to be a good fit for the Timberwolves. While his defense is already NBA-caliber, Wiggins will be able to develop his offense alongside point guard Ricky Rubio in an up-tempo system.

Speaking of that offense, Wiggins took part in a modified game of horse on Saturday against former Kansas stars Jeff Graves, Jeff Hawkins and several young campers. After clanking a series of 3-pointers off the iron, Wiggins was the first contestant to be eliminated.

He took the ouster with a smile and a shrug, just as he has all of the trade talk.

"I think he's handled everything great. He's excited," Self said. "I think the whole thing that's been blown out of proportion a bit is that he's been in limbo. He's known since the summer that he'd be traded. It's OK. In some ways he's looking forward to going to Minnesota."
 
Glad we are trading that asshole now:chuckles:

If I take anything away from that article its that Wiggins was going to leave his first chance anyway. Welp. Can't blame him for wanting to be thr "man" on his own team. Although I do think he will be exposed in Minny
 
Glad we are trading that asshole now:chuckles:

If I take anything away from that article its that Wiggins was going to leave his first chance anyway. Welp. Can't blame him for wanting to be thr "man" on his own team. Although I do think he will be exposed in Minny

Be very careful how much you take from an ESPIN article. We have no idea what he'd have done if we were retaining him instead. Remember, he knows at this point that he is on his way to Minnesota. He needs to find ways to be comfortable with that. That's what it sounds like to me. It's his way of trying to rationalize it to himself.
 
I don't understand why every time a player leaves Cleveland, even in a situation where we trade him away, the immediate response is to lash out. Wiggins didn't put down the city or the franchise.

Just like this natural response anytime someone even hints that they would like to play somewhere else (even when he's probably lying, like in this case) we go into this defensive "fuck that guy" mode.
 
Yeah really, we're seriously trashing the kid now for trying to make the best of a situation he literally has no control over?
 
It was a fuckin joke. I do think he'll be underwhelming though
 
Who's trashing him?

Lots of posters have been downplaying / mocking / trashing Wiggins since the news that he was put on the table in some degree or another. There is a narrative among many that Wiggins won't pan out. It's absurd IMHO, but whatever.
 
So it comes out AFTER it's been all but confirmed he's trade that he'd rather play in Minnesota. Seems legit Wiggins.
 

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