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Minnesota Timberwolves: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards

By Luke Askew

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Most Improved Player: Andrew Wiggins

The former No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year winner is approaching a critical season for his future in the league. After putting up career numbers in the 2016-17 season (including career-highs in volume and efficiency), Wiggins had a really tough 2017-18 season.

Perhaps this was due to having to play with Jimmy Butler on the wing or perhaps Wiggins just wasn’t ready for the big stage yet. Either way, he has his fair share of critics in Minnesota and needs to show them something good this season.

Last season, Wiggins averaged 17.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on horrendous .438/.331/.643 shooting splits. I mean… yikes, Wiggs.

Those offensive inefficiency and his lack of ability to defend consistently are getting hard to defend (no inaccurate pun intended), even for Wiggins supporters. The 23-year-old athletic phenom still has as much potential as nearly any player in the league though, so maybe this will be the year he puts it all together.

He’s been put in a tough situation, and now is the time for him to prove he can handle it. If he can make it work with Butler on the wing and improve his defense, he has a real possibility of winning the Most Improved Player award in 2018-19.

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