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Andrew Wiggins Will Lead Minnesota Timberwolves to Surprise NBA

By Ryan Heckman

Oct 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Corey Brewer (13) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) and guard Ricky Rubio (9) talk during a break in the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center. The Timberwolves win 116-110. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Corey Brewer (13) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) and guard Ricky Rubio (9) talk during a break in the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center. The Timberwolves win 116-110. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nobody is picking the Minnesota Timberwolves to win an NBA championship any time soon, but Andrew Wiggins will help lead the young squad further than most expect.

Heading into the 2014 offseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves were expecting pure misery. Not only did they come up short of making the playoffs yet again, but they were about to lose the best player they have had in Minneapolis since Kevin Garnett — and it was happening an all too familiar way. Love was sick and tired of losing and did not want to be in Minnesota any longer. The Wolves would have likely traded him to the best suitor, for maybe a few players and picks like the Garnett trade — but, nothing earth-shattering.

Of course, that was until the Cleveland Cavaliers landed LeBron James in free agency. It all changed from there on out. Immediately, rumors swirled of Love and LeBron wanting to play together. Cleveland had also secured Kansas swingman Andrew Wiggins with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and, thankfully for Minnesota, it appeared inevitable that he would soon be in a Wolves jersey.

The Cavaliers put up a fight for quite some time, but Minnesota would not relent on their end. Alas, Andrew Wiggins was a member of the Wolves. The future had gotten a million times brighter in the Twin Cities in one swift move that would shake the entire NBA. Wiggins, along with former number one overall pick Anthony Bennett would join Minnesota and their ever-growing youth movement.

The Wolves also acquired former Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young while drafting an exciting and athletic guard out of UCLA, Zach LaVine. With Flip Saunders taking over coaching duties, the Wolves’ outlook grew more and more positive by the minute.

Jan 20, 2014; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self talks with guard Andrew Wiggins (22) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 78-68. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2014; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self talks with guard Andrew Wiggins (22) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 78-68. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Wiggins (19) joins LaVine (19), Glenn Robinson III (20), Bennett (21), Shabazz Muhammad (21), Gorgui Dieng (24), Ricky Rubio (24) and Young (26) on a roster that clearly features a roster loaded with plenty of young and exciting potential. In fact, the Wolves have only four players on their current roster older than 30.

Am I expecting Minnesota to make a push for the upper echelon of the Western Conference this upcoming season? Absolutely not. That would be absurd. This roster will take some time to gel and mature, but let me assure you, Wiggins will hurdle the Wolves out of the bottom feeding group sooner than expected.

Let’s not forget that Andrew Wiggins wanted to play in Minnesota. He did not want to play in the shadow of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Wiggins knew the potential he had as an NBA star, and sure was not going to settle for being anything except for “the man” wherever he wound up. He’s just that good.

Wiggins’ college coach, Bill Self, explained his former player’s mentality back in August.

“When all this trade stuff started, I talked to Andrew and Andrew told me, ‘I hope I get traded,'” Self said, according to ESPN. “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.’

“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.”

“He needs to develop that mindset to be the guy, for him to be great…” – Bill Self

Wiggins isn’t your typical number one overall pick. There are very few players that get drafted first overall that come in right away knowing they are going to be the face of a franchise, knowing that they are capable of such a task even as a rookie. Prime example: Anthony Bennett, now Wiggins’ teammate. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am just fine with Wiggins being a vocal, confident and authoritative rookie. The Timberwolves have needed somebody like this for years. Kevin Love sure wasn’t that kind of leader; after all, Love’s head had left Minnesota long before he was traded.

If anything else, Minnesota could put on the 2015 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on its own, if it really wanted to. With guys like Wiggins, LaVine and Young, I cannot wait to see how Rubio’s game is affected. There should be absolutely zero pressure on the Spaniard offensively, except for getting the ball to his high flyers at the rim.

Fans, I sure hope you are excited for this upcoming season. It may not result in a championship, but this Andrew Wiggins guy…he sure is special. Just wait and see.

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