Andrew Wiggins‘ performance in helping the Warriors capture the NBA championship was exactly what the team envisioned when it traded for him at the 2020 deadline, writes Jarrod Castillo of NBC Sports Bay Area. With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the roster, Golden State didn’t need Wiggins to be a primary scorer, which allowed him to focus on defense, rebounding and helping the offense in other ways.
“He couldn’t have played that role any better in the Finals especially, but really throughout the playoffs,” coach Steve Kerr said this week on the “Damon and Ratto” radio show. “The way he rebounded, the way he guarded the opponent’s best players, he was just awesome.”
There were plenty of doubters when the Warriors made the deal for Wiggins, who was often viewed as an underachiever during his five and a half seasons with Minnesota. Kerr said it took time for Wiggins to get comfortable with Golden State, but he was ready to contribute when the playoff opportunity arrived.
“It’s just been a perfect marriage and we’re thrilled with him and I know he’s happy to be here. So excited to coach Wiggs again,” Kerr said.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Thompson is eager for the start of training camp after enjoying a healthy summer for the first time in four years, per Angelina Martin of NBC Sports Bay Area. Thompson wasn’t able to play until January last season, but he plans to be ready when training camp gets underway in a little more than two weeks. “Klay is just on cloud nine right now,” Kerr said on the same broadcast. “He can’t wait for camp to start, and I would expect him to be more consistent this year, just having that conditioning base underneath him, and that consistency of good health and being able to train all summer.”
- Kerr also commented on Jordan Poole, saying he might be at his peak as a scorer but he can still improve as a defender, according to Eduardo Razo of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I thought last year in the playoffs when he was fully engaged and really playing with physicality, he showed he can be a legit two-way player, but he knows he hasn’t become that consistently,” Kerr said. “And so that’s the next step for Jordan.”
- It would be surprising if the Warriors work out a rookie scale extension with Poole rather than waiting to deal with him as a restricted free agent next summer, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area says on the latest edition of Dubs Talk.
The bigger question is who stays and who goes next year for the warriors. 1 of the 3 pending FA will leave. It will more come down to who will give up a max contract to Green or Wiggins. All Poole needs to do is back up last season’s numbers with good defense and he stays.
Its Wiggins, its always been Wiggins. Drafting Baldwin sealed the deal. Moody+Kuminga can replace Wiggins minutes too.
Drafting Baldwin was to replace Beli and it seemed as if Baldwin was the pick to say they wanted to Franz last year but Kuminga’s athletic ability and rawness was too good to pass up. But PBJ is close to Fran’s Wagner for them in terms of talent and system fit, idk if PBJ defense is anywhere near Wagners level. PBJ is not a defensive wing to replace Wiggins and letting wings when they are the most desired assets in the league is absolutely insane thing to do. Lacob has 400-420m limit before the 24 cap increase. It matters what Wiggins wants, if he wants a raise which it seems like, then a trade will happen to get assets back for him.
I’ll trade Draymond
Young is everything in spor t s
The Warriors have plenty of young players. They don’t have enough coaches to work on developing them.
You are hysterical. Poole’s defense is inconsistent at best. He is also a weak rebounder. He is clearly a sign and trade candidate. Divencenzo will eat into Poole’s minutes.
No,no,no
You just don’t trade young rising star
@SFGiants
Poole’s inconsistent defense is why Kerr is commenting on it being what he needs to work on. I think they will try to sign him to the extension, given the overpay for Brunson among others.
Poole needs to improve his inconsistent defense for them to resign him.
So their decision is the lesser of two evils. Do they get him to sign an extension by the 10/17 deadline to avoid the likely high market value he would have as a UFA, or do they wait and see if he can improve his on ball defense and make the decision depending on how the season goes?
If I was Poole, I’d bet on myself, but who knows.
Actually, if the Warriors don’t extend Poole by 10/17, Poole becomes a RFA. The Warriors can match or trade him. With all the young players they have, they should wait. They are very high on Weatherspoon. He could be a perfect replacement for Poole.
Kerr is wrong. Poole can be even better as a scorer I think. He’s still so young. And as the other warriors get older Jordan will take over more control
You know more about shooting than Kerr.
@ SFGiants:
It’s not as if Kerr said he can’t possibly improve offensively, since it’s obvious that he can improve his 3 pt FG%.
That’s based on his league leading ft%, he just needs to improve his shot selection to get above 40%.
Kerr is merely coaching (by telling Poole where his focus should be, while complimenting his offense).
Kerr said Poole has peaked. He is not going to get much better.
He actually said “I don’t know that he can do anything more to step up offensively”. Obviously that’s not the same thing as “Poole has peaked”.
He just turned 23 in June – his peak offensively is in the future, not the past.
Wiggins played well in the Finals, but that was due to him being a Curry gravity merchant. It doesn’t matter if he leaves, GSW will likely be in the Finals if the big 3+youth 5 are healthy, no team in the West has anything close to the talent level of GSW with or without Wiggins.
That’s funny ….. you are the hater of Wiggins to Warriors .
Warriors won’t even be back in Finals next yr.
And Wiggins. I pray Rose wakes up and trades for him. I’m one of the few who always supported him and his game.
The Warriors struggled last year. Why do you believe they won’t return to the Finals.
West is good. And I think the Suns are the most motivated. Only way I see Warriors back in Finals. Is if Wiseman has a big yr. Like him but not sure he is ready. Warriors were good last yr. But I just don’t think they were that good. Won’t be as easy getting out the playoffs this yr.
bold statement from……Knickerbocker? lol…hope springs eternal from the East coast!
Why trade for Wiggins? just sign him in the off season
Warriors not letting him walk. Either they keep him and let Dre walk. Or they trade him in season (sign n trade). Warriors can’t keep everyone. Too much money at stake.
@ KnickAl:
It’s always easy to take the field vs the defending champ. Ofc they’re a year older, so injuries could happen.
On the other hand, this is a legit dynasty team that has proven they know how to win.
That’s why Vegas has them favored to make the Finals, and 2nd only to the Celtics to win it.
Yes you are right. I just think Suns blew it. The Ayton thing. And imo they didn’t give Mavs enough respect. Never should of went seven. Suns coach blew it imo. Ayton should of dominated Mavs. I know CP3 knows that. I’m a big Ayton guy. Suns better wake up and realize what they got.
GSW would stop the Suns just like they stopped the Mavs and Celtics. Their most dangerous challenger in the West this season is the Clippers.
Wiggins rebound increases 67% from regular season to playoffs
Who leads the nba in plus/minus box in playoffs?
Wiggins to NY ……. make it happen Dolan.
Why can’t people just take it one year at a time? the team is intact THIS year! lets win another……then worry about stuff.
wiggins he suck
∆∆he suck∆∆
You me not agree
Stop yapping about young players and DiVicenzo being better than Poole, that’s insane.
Regarding Moody. Imo a big reason everyone seems to be saying they have high expectations for Moody, is that it will further motivate Poole and DiVicenzo. Coaches have said they’d like to see Moody develop into a Mikal Bridges type defender. That’s a high bar to set but within reason over the next year or two.