Andrew Wiggins 2014-2015 Season Outlook

[superjew 266]

What's so good about this guy that teams are actively tanking the season to try to get him? Is he Lebron James level?

[JetCityPersian 56]

What's so good about this guy that teams are actively tanking the season to try to get him? Is he Lebron James level?

I have only seen Nike hoops summit highlights, but I would say no. LeBron was already a man-child in high school, a complete freak of nature. Wiggins looks like a nice kid - a bit skinny. Good length and quickness.

We may not see another LeBron for a decade or more.

[mjk356 4,508]

This video should explain some of the hype. But I want to see him go out and dominate D1 competition next season the way Durant did to fully buy into the hype. With his talent, there is no excuse for him to not average 22-24 PPG as a freshman next season.

[Verlaine 2]

he has a movie coming out in November

[sya 705]

Good siZe who has excellent handles and great athleticism. Shooting i am not so sure, but that is one of the things that can be taught and developed.

I think it is unfair for woggins to be compared to lbj. But i think worst case, he will be scottie pippen. Anf that is a very high floor

[sya 705]

Also when teams tank next year it is not just for wiggins. It is for randle, parker, harrison, smart. All these guys are projected to make immediate impact for their teams.

[Tarheels_2433 1,135]

That highlight video reminds me so much of a Vince Carter high school highlight reel; just the sheer dominance in athletic ability and literally power dunking on anyone and everyone. I wonder if Air Canada (Carter from his Raptor days) was a favorite of his since he's from Canada.

Here's the

high school reel for comparison if you want to watch.

[ballsohard 1,373]

What's so good about this guy that teams are actively tanking the season to try to get him? Is he Lebron James level?

Well, he's so good that he has a player outlook thread 2 years in advance. So there's that.

[nickalero99 643]

Agree with those who have said it's not so much about Wiggins but the overall strength at the top of the class. Wiggins looks like he could be something special (not on the LeBron level physically), but the top of this class as a whole is loaded. Getting a top 5 pick will allow a team to take a guy with a definite potential to be a franchise changer.

[JetCityPersian 56]

My extremely ignorant NBA comp for him right now is Paul George. The handle is much better than I realized (nice vid posted in this thread). He's lanky like George, and is obviously very athletic.

[GJDHouse 829]

My extremely ignorant NBA comp for him right now is Paul George. The handle is much better than I realized (nice vid posted in this thread). He's lanky like George, and is obviously very athletic.

Wiggins is as good as George is right now ... and George has no where near the explosiveness or bounce that Wiggins has. Not really all that similar other than physical makeup. George has more of a set shot and gets to the basket by being slippery. Wiggins is like a tank. He plays like Lebron, and while his handle isn't nearly as good, and I can't imagine his vision is either, his scoring game is very much patterned after Lebron's. Vince Carter is another great comp.

Wiggins is going to be an immediate superstar and is worth tanking for.

[nickalero99 643]

My extremely ignorant NBA comp for him right now is Paul George. The handle is much better than I realized (nice vid posted in this thread). He's lanky like George, and is obviously very athletic.

Wiggins is as good as George is right now ... and George has no where near the explosiveness or bounce that Wiggins has. Not really all that similar other than physical makeup. George has more of a set shot and gets to the basket by being slippery. Wiggins is like a tank. He plays like Lebron, and while his handle isn't nearly as good, and I can't imagine his vision is either, his scoring game is very much patterned after Lebron's. Vince Carter is another great comp.

Wiggins is going to be an immediate superstar and is worth tanking for.

False. Paul George with a bunch of scrubs wouldn't have lost 3 HS games this season. Much less with a bunch of other D1 prospects.

[lbjames6 2,349]

My extremely ignorant NBA comp for him right now is Paul George. The handle is much better than I realized (nice vid posted in this thread). He's lanky like George, and is obviously very athletic.

Wiggins is as good as George is right now ... and George has no where near the explosiveness or bounce that Wiggins has. Not really all that similar other than physical makeup. George has more of a set shot and gets to the basket by being slippery. Wiggins is like a tank. He plays like Lebron, and while his handle isn't nearly as good, and I can't imagine his vision is either, his scoring game is very much patterned after Lebron's. Vince Carter is another great comp.

Wiggins is going to be an immediate superstar and is worth tanking for.

False. Paul George with a bunch of scrubs wouldn't have lost 3 HS games this season. Much less with a bunch of other D1 prospects.

I've heard that Wiggins' motor is a bit questionable. He doesn't give it his all if he feels he doesn't have to. Not sure of the validity of that but just some food for thought.

[NyMetsfan5 1,630]

wait wait wait did someone just say Wiggins is better than George when he hasnt even played a single college game yet. you mean to tell me hes better than an nba all star who led the pacers to the eastern conference finals? what the

[mjk356 4,508]

If you compare Wiggins at 18 years old to Paul George at 18 years old, then the comp wouldn't even be close. Paul George at 18 was a lightly recruited prospect who played two years at Fresno State. He then had two years as a role player and then became an All-Star. Wiggins at 18 is light years ahead of George at the same age.

Wiggins' ceiling is to be one of the top 3 players in the game with LeBron and Durant. While Paul George is a very good young player, his ceiling is not close to that.

[crazy47larry 479]

Does Wiggins profile better than Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving?

[mjk356 4,508]

Does Wiggins profile better than Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving?

Wiggins is a better prospect than Kyrie or AD were. This guy has every tool imaginable to become an elite NBA player. Size, strength, explosiveness, speed, ball handling. The guy who is probably going to go #2 this year, Julius Randle, is arguably a better prospect than Kyrie or Davis were as well. Here's a video of Randle.

[Ukraine Spuds 77]

Wouldn't be surprised if Randle dominates next year at Kentucky and becomes the #1 overall pick.

[crazy47larry 479]

Does Wiggins profile better than Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving?

Wiggins is a better prospect than Kyrie or AD were. This guy has every tool imaginable to become an elite NBA player. Size, strength, explosiveness, speed, ball handling. The guy who is probably going to go #2 this year, Julius Randle, is arguably a better prospect than Kyrie or Davis were as well. Here's a video of Randle.

Its just so hard for me to put any prospect up on that pedestal next to LeBron and KD. I would be more than satisfied to see him next to Irving and Davis, let alone that pair. I guess this has the makings of the 2003 draft all over again. Wiggins/Randle/Parker/Smart all primed to be the next generation.

[SenatorSpaceman 1,845]

Paul George with a bunch of scrubs wouldn't have lost 3 HS games this season. Much less with a bunch of other D1 prospects.

But it's not like he was only playing against kids who work at Popeyes in the offseason. They played a number of teams that were full of AAU superstars and D1 recruits.

Does Wiggins profile better than Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving?

Yes, absolutely.

Wiggins/Randle/Parker/Smart all primed to be the next generation.

Yep. Are you ready?

I'm already excited about these high school kids. They seem ready to shine right NOW. Wiggins could be the next face of the league, we all know about him. Randle is an exceptional specimen with ridiculous talent that would be the #1 pick in almost any other draft. Parker is a great kid with a great pedigree who some believe may stay at Duke for more than one season but I feel like that wouldn't be fair to NBA fans or every other team in the ACC.

[ballsohard 1,373]

Just to bring in a different perspective, what are the chances of Wiggins/Randle/Parker/Smart NOT becoming anything special? Do any of them have any flaws that might make them bust on the pro level?

[ballsohard 1,373]

Appreciate the in-depth post on krupocin. I think a moderator would do well in moving that post to a dedicated 2014 draft thread, since it's packed with helpful info. Wiggins certainly sounds like the second coming of a Lebron/KD-caliber draft pick though. I'm very excited. Given your dirt on Parker, I think he might end up being the second best player available after Wiggins.

Anything on Andrew Harrison though? I know he's a special talent, too.

[tremixt 1,900]

-Smart: kind of less mystery here, since he's already in college, but to me he is the 2nd coming of Eric Bledsoe but w/ a bit more natural instinct on offense. Still his shot is kinda suspect at times and he is kind of more combo G then PG at times. He avg'd like 6 ast per game and 4 TO's per 40 min. He is an absolute beast on the defensive end and the boards though for a 6'4" guy, alot like Bledsoe or Rondo.

Good analysis, but I disagree here. Smart is nowhere near the athlete Bledsoe is.

[krupocin 707]

-Smart: kind of less mystery here, since he's already in college, but to me he is the 2nd coming of Eric Bledsoe but w/ a bit more natural instinct on offense. Still his shot is kinda suspect at times and he is kind of more combo G then PG at times. He avg'd like 6 ast per game and 4 TO's per 40 min. He is an absolute beast on the defensive end and the boards though for a 6'4" guy, alot like Bledsoe or Rondo.

Good analysis, but I disagree here. Smart is nowhere near the athlete Bledsoe is.

I agree with you definitely, as I really don't think there are many athletes as good as Bledsoe in general. What I meant though was that they are both big, strong, very muscular Guards that fit somewhere between PG & SG even though Bledsoe is 3" shorer. He has the potential to get even bigger and stronger though, all you have to do is look at his frame/shoulders. I mean 6'4" 205lbs (although some sources have him as 225lbs) and just turned 19 y/o, I wouldn't wanna piss this guy off. He's actually drawn a few comparisons to James Harden, but I don't really see that. I guess the biggest thing that lead to my Bledsoe comparison, was look at his Freshman year #'s at OK State:

Marcus Smart: 33G @ 33.5mpg - 15.4ppg 5.8reb 4.2ast 3.4to 3.0stl 0.8blk 1.2 3PM on 40.5FG/29thr/78FT %'s

Those are some very Bledsoe'esque #'s if you ask me. The scary part too is that he got much better as the year went on, despite the level of competition increasing exponentially.

Appreciate the in-depth post on krupocin. I think a moderator would do well in moving that post to a dedicated 2014 draft thread, since it's packed with helpful info. Wiggins certainly sounds like the second coming of a Lebron/KD-caliber draft pick though. I'm very excited. Given your dirt on Parker, I think he might end up being the second best player available after Wiggins.

Anything on Andrew Harrison though? I know he's a special talent, too.

Thanks, and I definitely think it would be a nice thread to add too throughout the next year. The NBA draft, just like the fantasy draft, is one of the highlights of the year if you ask me. As for Andrew Harrison he's the one guy that's projected (right now at least) as a top 10 pick that I'm not at all a fan of. I feel like he's got everything going for him that I don't like in an NBA PG though, so maybe I'm a bit bias. He has a totally $hitty attitude, reminds of like a less crazy DeMarcus Cousins in like every interview you see with them they seem to be annoyed or so bored to have to answer a question. There are definitely concerns about this guys attitude though, that's one of his biggest knocks; I remember seeing one video of him at the U-18 Team USA camp where he said he was kind of unhappy having to give up his summer to be there, he caught himself at the end, but it sums up alot of what I think of his character. The other thing I'm not a big fan of with him, is he is part of the trend in young PG's that are basically short SG's. I'm not talking Derrick Rose or John Wall, the guys who are better at scoring but can still run an offense better than 90% of the league, but more the Nate Robinson or Jerryd Bayless types (I'm sure there are much better examples of guys at the college level who fit here) that are PG's just based on size not ability to run the team offense. These guys never seem to go anywhere no matter how well they can get to the hoop just bc the team needs someone who can set up the offense, and even on teams like the Heat/Thunder where there is no traditional PG, the reason is have a guy like KD/Lebron who is a PG in a SF/PF body. Ultimately though, he does have ridiculous natural ability, but that only goes so far except for the rarest of situations. I think this guys future really depends on his college experience and if he's able to mature and break those bad habits. Maturity though, often isn't something that changes overnight, and many people just are who they are, so I'd say he's either gonna be a bust or a stud, it really seems like there's no in between.

[SenatorSpaceman 1,845]

The good thing is that all three of the incoming freshman studs are playing at massive NCAA programs so even the casual college fan should get plenty of opportunities to check them out next year.