3 ways the Golden State Warriors can maximize Andrew Wiggins’ potential

Golden State must ‘trust the process’

It’s a far different (and frankly, more feasible) fit between Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors. But looking back at their time with D’Angelo Russell, it’s hard to trust Golden State will be patient.

They traded Kevin Durant to Brooklyn for the guard in a sign-and-trade deal, which oftentimes is more of a ‘twist your arm’ scenario than is related by the media.

The Warriors shot down any concern over the fit of a future Curry-Russell-Thompson lineup, as that trio wouldn’t share the floor until the following year.  And then, as soon as the trade deadline came around, they shipped Russell off to Minnesota.

Wiggins is just as much, if not more, an uncertain talent for the Warriors to take on.

He’s going to test their patience in ways that Russell never could, based on the season’s atmosphere at that point in time. Next year, Golden State wants to return to title talk. And the second Wiggins starts struggling to fit in with their championship scheme, rumors will fly.

How the Golden State Warriors will handle those rumors, and ultimately–Wiggins’ tenure, is hard to say.

But if they truly want to buy into Wiggins being the third piece (sorry Draymond) behind Curry and Thomspon, then it may take longer than a summer and a season to cement that. Trusting the process behind Wiggins’s development and a massive change of scenery will be crucial.