Wiggins could be headed to a new team before the season being properly.
As talk that 2014 number one draft pick Andrew Wiggins could be soon dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves intensifies, the new kid on the block is worried only about playing basketball.
Showing the maturity required when you are facing huge expectations from your professional career, Wiggins said he was not worried about his name being mentioned every hour about a possible new deal.
“I let my agent and my support system handle that, I just love playing the game of basketball and I know the NBA is a business,” Wiggins said Friday night after his Cavaliers had played their last game in the Las Vegas Summer League.
Wiggins said he relays what information he does know onto his inner-circle but said the talk is not a distraction.
The former Kansas star also said the Cleveland front office have not spoken to him directly, saying all he knows about a possible trade is what he has seen and read in the media.
Wiggins said he would love to have the chance to play alongside LeBron James, but said he has not had a chance to personally speak to the superstar since being drafted by the Cavs.
“It’s been crazy, but it’s all positive stuff you know,” Wiggins said. “LeBron comes back, nothing negative about that at all, best player in the world coming to your team, it’s just a great feeling, the organisation is on the rise right now.”
“It would be great for me,” Wiggins said of playing next to LeBron. “I could really learn and pick his brain, and see what it takes to get to his level.”
Wiggins felt he showed enough promise in the Cavs Summer League games to confirm what many saw in him at collegiate level.
“I showed people how quickly my skill set has developed and transitioned to the NBA, and how the NBA operates,” Wiggins said.
“You know, more one-on-one stuff in space, and that’s where I showed my growth.
“It’s been a great experience getting to play against great talent, loving the chemistry of the team and getting to know my teammates… getting a feel for the coach, him getting a feel for me and how we operate on the court.”
Cleveland coach David Blatt said he paid close attention to how Wiggins was playing in Las Vegas as much as his stats and said he was happy with both areas of his game to date.
“I was looking at Wig’s performances,” Blatt said. “(The) guy was in double figures every game, he rebounded, he defended, he went to the foul line, he played with intensity on both ends of the court. I thought for a rookie, for a guy with a lot on his shoulders as the first pick in the draft, for a 19 year old, I thought he played extremely well. We’re real happy with what he did.”
If the Cavs trade Wiggins for Love it will help their chances of winning a NBA title next season, with the All-Star power forward adding point scoring and rebounding by the bucket-load in the front court.
However, if they cannot get him to opt-in for the final year of his current contract, the Cavs would be giving up a lot in Wiggins, who could be the future face of the franchise alongside Kyrie Irving, for a player who might be gone if there is no title in the first year or two in Ohio.
A trade for Love will also fly in the face of what James said in his “essay” about his reasons for returning back to hometown side.
The star small forward said he knew the Cavs would require work and that it would take more time for them to be a contender than when he joined the Miami heat in 2010-11.
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