Minnesota Timberwolves: My Fears For Andrew Wiggins, Part 2

When I say something like “my fears” it is painting a pessimistic picture. But it really is a relative term in regards to Andrew Wiggins.

I taped the Minnesota Timberwolves preseason game on Friday night and I waited to watch it until the next day, even as I got messages from others about what an exciting snapshot the game was for this season. I was excited to watch it too. This collection of players doesn’t just make it seem like a different team; this is an entirely new team, with the holdovers probably having new roles that will make them feel like different players, too.

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So I watched the game. He’s got it. The excitement is justified. He’ll be great.

It only reinforced my feeling that having “fears” about Wiggins are only little quips in the grand scheme, but still things that are worth noting, especially if the team, the fans, and the star-thirsty media are expecting the things that I assume they expect, and fast.

When I look at a situation like the one the Wolves are in, I see a team with assets. There are valuable parts everywhere, even down the bench, but I cannot get a good grasp on how they will all meld together. I believe that there are transcendent guys, like LeBron James, that can succeed and can pull a franchise from the mire all by themselves.

But those guys are so few that I’m not sure they can even be a part of the realistic conversation. I’m pretty confident that Wiggins isn’t one of those transcendent players, even though he grew up being treated like one. My hint of doubt, though, makes it interesting.

As it stands now, the Wolves have a great young player and a bunch of other assets that could work out big. These guys, especially Wiggins, need to be put in the best position to succeed. I’m not sure what that looks like, though. I have to assume that means maximum transition opportunities with he and Ricky Rubio developing a sort of running kinship that manifests from aggressive defense that creates turnovers.

I think both Rubio and Wiggins will take chances on defense right away to try and get that offensive engine revved up.

I’m confident in the idea of an aggressive defense leading to fast break offense thing, but will the presence of center Nikola Pekovic hinder their ability to run as much as they want to? There is no doubt that they need Pekovic’s scoring and he will command the ball in his 25 minutes a game.

He will certainly draw double teams, which will leave Wiggins open to make plays, but he will have to prove an ability to knock down outside shots to keep the defenses honest. Pekovic on the floor will be something of a catch-22 for Wiggins, slowing things down but also creating opportunities if he can take advantage of them.

I understand a lot of this is me searching for things to be concerned with. Yes Pekovic is going to slow things down more than Gorgui Dieng would. And yes Kevin Martin will feel like he has to pick up the scoring slack and will take shots when we are all begging for Wiggins to be more aggressive. And there will be times that I am shaking my head at Flip Saunders’ insistence at playing Chase Budinger and Corey Brewer even after Wiggins has a scorching hot stretch. All of these will happen.

But Wiggins has it. The fits will play themselves out. These “fears” are probably all just part of the feeling out period. I only ask that they expedite the curve.

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