VIDEO: Nick Wright's Take on Warriors' Trade for Andrew Wiggins is Downright Impeachable
By Michael Luciano
Oh, Nick Wright! Of all the talking heads that populate FS1's morning lineup, Wright probably descends into hot take territory the least frequently. However, he uncorked a thermonuclear take when he commented on the blockbuster trade that sent D'Angelo Russell and a few end-of-the-bench players to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Andrew Wiggins to the Golden State Warriors. Wright called Wiggins a "bad basketball player" and said Steph Curry will "never see another NBA Finals" with the acquisition.
"Andrew Wiggins is a bad basketball player. He's owed $95M over the next 3 years, starting next year. It's unspeakable the Warriors did this. ... It's over for them now. We will never see Steph in another NBA Finals again. Ever." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/mqu5qkEYm9
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 7, 2020
Is Wiggins a touch overpaid? Sure. Is a 24-year-old that hasn't averaged fewer than 16.9 points per game in a season and is currently putting up 22 a game on 44% shooting "bad"? Absolutely not. Wiggins might not be a No. 1 star on a championship team, but he can be a valuable asset on one.
This trade was a major boon for the Warriors, who really maximized their return on the Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala departures.
So the Warriors turned Kevin Durant (who was leaving no matter what), Andre Iguodala & a 2024 1st round pick into:
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) February 6, 2020
-Andrew Wiggins
-Minny's 2021 1st rounder (Top 3 protected)
-Minny's 2021 2nd rounder
-$17.2 million trade exception (pretty valuable)
-no repeater tax in '20 or '21
The Warriors even managed to go under the luxury tax by dumping the contracts of Omari Spellman and Jacob Evans.
Side note to this blockbuster: By also shedding the Evans/Spellman contracts, Warriors are in line to duck the luxury tax, which will get them out of the repeater next season, freeing them from a large financial burden, particularly if they use the Iguodala trade exception.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 6, 2020
The Timberwolves get Karl-Anthony Towns' best friend and an All-Star at point guard, while the Warriors get a scoring wing that can fill it up with his eyes closed and financial flexibility. Not to mention, when the Warriors are back to full strength, Wiggins will more than likely be their FOURTH-BEST player.
How has Wright managed to poke holes in that trade?