NBA Rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves star Andrew Wiggins is reportedly unhappy being a third banana behind Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns; could he be moved this summer?
When the Minnesota Timberwolves traded for Jimmy Butler last summer, many tagged the team as the group that would ultimately end the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty sooner rather than later.
After all, adding a talent like Butler to an already talented young team would only equate future success. That, however, hasn’t exactly worked out thus far. On top of Butler potentially missing the remainder of the season with an injury, the Wolves reportedly have some other issues on their hands.
One that involves one of their young, talented pieces.
According to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN, Andrew Wiggins is unhappy playing the third banana role with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It’s not exactly known what will come of this, or if anything will.
Wiggins just signed a huge five-year extension with the team and won’t be able to hit the open free agent market for a long time. However, in the player-power movement, he could theoretically demand a trade this summer.
Though, it’s highly doubtful considering he has little-to-no leverage after signing his extension. Wolfson, who originally reported Wiggins’ feelings, also doesn’t see him as being the type of player that will make this a distraction.
That’s the good news for the Wolves.
On the other hand, you have to try to predict how this will impact Wiggins’ development. If he’s not happy in his role, it could definitely stunt his growth as a player.
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If nothing else, this is troubling. And not because the Wolves might have to trade Wiggins, but because of the difficult situation that they could be forced into.
It would not be hard to trade a young player like Wiggins. Getting good value in return would be the difficult part.