5 reasons Andrew Wiggins is more valuable than Jimmy Butler
By Tom West
Wiggins is still younger than Butler was as a rookie
After finishing two full seasons in the NBA with an average of 35.7 minutes a night, Wiggins is still younger (21) than Butler was as a rookie (22).
The fact that both players started their pro careers four years apart in terms of their ages has to fill Timberwolves fans with so much excitement as these trade talks take over the internet.
Butler was solely a defensive player over his first few years and it wasn’t until his fourth year in the NBA that he hit 20 points per game, coming off a remarkable 2014 summer in which he worked tirelessly on his jumper to drastically expand his range and scoring output (13.1 points per game in 2013-14 to 20 the next season).
Essentially, even though Butler may be a favorable offensive option to the young Wiggins now, it took him time to get to where he is, and he was clearly further back as a scorer when entering the league. Wiggins, meanwhile, despite lacking a reliable three-point shot (0.7 makes per 36 minutes), has already made a scoring impact in his important role with the Timberwolves’ offense, benefiting from high minutes and high usage to gain experience.
Yes, Minnesota has a long way to go as they search for offensive prowess and their small forward has a lot of work to do to refine his efficiency and hone his jump shot. But when you weigh up his experience and impact at that end of the floor in comparison to Butler at the same age (still a senior in college), it’s clear Wiggins has an early advantage to overtake somewhere down the road.
Next: Wiggins is a better sidekick for Towns