With his jumper and ability to score from the perimeter, Andrew Wiggins is the most electrifying player on the New Jersey Nets.
The Nets are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference, and while they don’t have a proven superstar, they do have a veteran point guard who could be a franchise savior.
It’s no secret that the New England Patriots would love to have Wiggins back in 2017-18.
While he’s not quite as versatile as Russell Westbrook, Wiggins can do a lot more for New Jersey than Westbrook can.
He’s also not as expensive as Westbrook is, which is a plus.
Here’s a look at the reasons why the New Yorker could be the next superstar for the Nets.1.
He can create off the dribbleThis is probably the most important reason for why Wiggins should be back with the Nets next season.
As you probably know, the New Orleans Pelicans traded away Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for Wiggins in the 2017 offseason.
This was not the first trade that was made in the Wiggins era, but it was one of the most prominent ones.
This move allowed the Pelicans to draft the sharpshooting point guard out of Kentucky in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft.
While the Pelicans would lose him to the Lakers, they could still use his experience and upside.
The Pelicans could potentially use Wiggins to help out on the court while also filling out their bench.2.
He has the versatility to help the team on both ends of the floorWhen the New Knicks drafted Wiggins in 2016, they took him with the first overall pick.
The Knicks had a plethora of options at the point guard position, and it was easy to see why.
With New York’s offense under new coach Derek Fisher, the team needed to be more aggressive offensively.
This included moving on from Anthony Davis and adding Wiggins to the mix.
While New York will likely be using Wiggins on the perimeter this season, the idea of giving him more touches should be welcomed.3.
He is an elite shooterHe may not have the same skills as Westbrook, but Wiggins is a skilled shooter who can knock down a jumper on any given night.
The biggest thing to take away from his game is that he has elite ability to shoot from deep.
The NBA is full of elite shooters who can shoot it in all situations.
For instance, DeMarcus Cousins can make a jump shot off the bounce and the defense will have no problem stopping him.
Wiggins can also make a play at the rim, as evidenced by his performance at the FIBA Americas last year.
Wiggins could also be an effective spot-up shooter, which would allow him to make a big difference on the defensive end.4.
He was a dominant scorer during his three seasons with the Wolves, averaging 24.5 points per game during his rookie campaign.
Wiggins is capable of doing much more than just score in the paint.
The way he defends, the way he shoots the ball, and his ability to create offense from the three point line could lead to a lot of NBA success.5.
He could play alongside Kristaps Porzingis in the NBA This is something that has been hinted at since Wiggins was drafted.
While Porzingas is more of a scoring guard than an athlete, Wiggins will be able to play alongside him and be a more consistent offensive player.
The Wolves have had their eye on Wiggins for some time, as he was a late second round pick for the New Zealand national team.
In the end, the Wolves gave Wiggins the franchise tag after the 2016 NBA draft, and he was eventually signed to a five-year contract in 2019.
The Timberwolves could use Wiggins in a bigger role than he’s ever been used in.6.
He should help the Nets improve their defenseWhen the Nets drafted Wiggins last year, the front office was expecting him to provide a significant boost to the defensive side of the ball.
While that was true for the entire year, there was one area that was lacking: athleticism.
While Wiggins has a strong handle and quick release, he’s nowhere near as explosive as Westbrook or Cousins.
This could be why the Nets were hesitant to bring him back this offseason.
As of now, Wiggins is considered the most talented rookie in the draft class, but he’s a long way from being a finished product.
The next step for Wiggins is to continue to improve his defensive game and prove to the coaching staff that he’s still a great player.7.
He doesn’t need a contract extensionThe most obvious reason why Wiggins will want to sign with the New Yorkers is the amount of money he’s getting this season.
He will make a very large chunk of the $22 million he’s scheduled to earn this season and a lot less next season, which will help him with his salary cap situation.
The New York front office also has a cap-friendly plan for next season that will help with Wiggins’ salary cap.8.
He might be worth the gambleIt’s unlikely that the Nets would trade Wiggins. After all
