Fansided

5 biggest disappointments of the 2018-19 NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 2: Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks with Bradley Beal (3) during action against the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 2: Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks with Bradley Beal (3) during action against the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 08: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on February 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 08: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on February 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. Andrew Wiggins

After the 2018-19 season, Andrew Wiggins Island has become uninhabitable.

In the first year of his five-year, $147.7 million max contract extension, Wiggins had his most underwhelming season yet. His per-game averages hardly budged from his 2017-18 output, and he finished with a career-low player efficiency rating of 12.3. (Worth noting: The league average is 15.0.)

With Jimmy Butler in the fold in 2017-18, Wiggins took a step back as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ clear No. 3 option. But considering Butler played only 10 games with the T-Wolves in 2018-19 before heading to the Philadelphia 76ers, Wiggins has no such excuse this year.

Before offering him the max extension, team owner Glen Taylor wanted to sit down face-to-face with Wiggins “to hear the former No. 1 overall pick commit to the franchise in a similar fashion,” Jon Krawczynski reported at the time.

“To me, by making this offer, I’m speculating that his contribution to the team will be more in the future,” Taylor told Krawczynski. “We’ve got to be better. He can’t be paid just for what he’s doing today. He’s got to be better.

“So when you’re talking about negotiations on his part, I’m already extending to him that I’m willing to meet the max. But there are some things that I need out of him, and that is the commitment to be a better player than you are today.”

Narrator: Wiggins has not followed through with that commitment, and Taylor likely has buyer’s remorse as a result.

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