Andrew Wiggins parts with agent with max deal on table

All signs point to Andrew Wiggins signing a max deal with the Timberwolves soon, but parting with his agent creates an extra layer to the situation.

After setting a career-high by averaging 23.6 points per game last season, Andrew Wiggins is a rising star in the NBA. He is in line to sign a max deal, worth  $148 million over five years, but Wiggins has reportedly parted with his agent with that contract still on the table.

Agent Bill Duffy negotiated the looming max deal with the Timberwolves on Wiggins’ behalf, but Wiggins filed paperwork with the players’ association on Tuesday to terminate his relationship with Duffy and BDA Sports.

Since it was done under his watch, Duffy is entitled to commission up to four percent on Wiggins’ new deal. Duffy’s experience tells him tampering is common in the agent business, with promises of no commission fees on contracts and other inducements, and he acknowledged it openly to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

"We are disappointed that Andrew made this decision, especially after a three-year partnership where we worked closely with Andrew and his entire family,” . “Unfortunately, tampering is a common problem in our industry, and that’s part of the reason why I’ve already been in contact with the NBPA to discuss my rights in this matter. Obviously, whenever Andrew signs the max extension that we negotiated with Minnesota, we will work with the NBPA to make sure that our interests are protected."

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It’s unclear if there will be any delay for Wiggins to sign the new contract, assuming it is indeed all but done, but a formal change in representation could create some level of limbo before it can become official. There’s plenty of time to get it formally through the process though, with the deadline for rookie deal extensions coming on Oct. 16.