79 Comments
Aug 25, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

What a wonderful article. It is SO much fun to relive Wiggins’ success and his pure joy as a Warrior. OT: The price of a ticket in Chicago for the Warriors-Bulls game on January 15th? $400 to $10,000 for lower level seats. What?????? I don’t know how I’m going to do it but somehow, some way, I vow to be inside the United Center on that Sunday afternoon!!!

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Aug 25, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

Such a fun discussion. Wiggs deserves all the praise. He really showed up and was a difference maker in the championship run. I’m going to really enjoy cheering for him this season and enjoy every minute he’s in a dubs uniform effortlessly levitating his way to a rebound.

Already praying to the CBA gods. Please let us keep him

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Nico Mannion 11 pts 9 ast against Ukraine yesterday.

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Short take: if we have to choose between he and Poole it's tough. He's a plus defender while guarding the best in the game. His offense is usually good, sometimes great. If his rebounding and general focus stays where it was in the playoffs, and ownership won't keep him and Poole, I think Poole is the odd man out. Wiggins is 27 and has the best 6 years of his career ahead, and he fits great with the old man core. Good thing we have another full season with both of them before we have to worry too much, and a great chance at another big gold trophy!

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Wiggins and the Warriors were truly in a symbiotic relationship this past season where everyone benefitted from each other. Next year, I hope Wiggins and Lacob remember that when his contract is up.

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Aug 24, 2022·edited Aug 24, 2022

I have to also mention a couple things:

* Wiggs was spending a LOT of time full-court pressing and wearing out his opponent. This is usually something you only see from reserve defensive specialists, not starters playing 35 minutes a game in the playoffs.

* When not counting early offense or late shot clock attempts, he was 9/19 from three in the Finals and 22 of 55 overall in the playoffs. (nba.com tracking stats)

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Couldn't be happier for Wiggins and the success he had this year. I wasn't excited when the Warriors traded for him, primarily due to perceived attitude issues. That lasted about one game, the first game he played for GSW against the Lakers when he had 24 points and 5 steals and guarded LeBron for the majority of the contest. And sure, one could say that he should have been expected to put up decent numbers as the best player on that iteration of the Warriors but he showed a level of effort that I never really saw from him when the Warriors would play with the Wolves. He won me over in his first couple of weeks with the team, when he seemed genuinely excited to be here even during a season where the Warriors were the worst team in the league.

His fit with the team is still underrated, IMO. We talk a lot about how the greatness of the Warriors' championship core is in part due to how seamlessly the big 3 of Steph-Klay-Dray complement each other, in their playing ability as well as their mentality. Andy showed this past season that he also fits just as seamlessly with those guys in both of those categories. He brings the athleticism and secondary scoring they lack at times as well as the low-key and unassuming attitude which allows him to either defer to his superstar teammates or to temporarily take the lead, whatever the situation requires. There's no mystery as to why he has become a favorite of the coaching staff as well as the players when you consider his physical and mental versatility. The dude is solid as a rock and he can flow like water.

I think Trogdor made a thought out and well-reasoned case as to why Andrew would be the odd man out when difficult contract decisions need to be made, but I still have a hard time seeing the Dubs not try very hard to keep Wiggins in the fold. He just fits this team too well. I hope we get to see that megawatt smile on the team photos of several more Warriors titles. He's been a joy to watch.

I also appreciate him getting the vaccine at the beginning of the season and not becoming a sideshow like Kyrie, even though he didn't want to take it. He didn't change his skeptical opinion towards the vaccine and he still wishes he hadn't gotten it according to a recent interview, and some may judge him on that. That's their prerogative but as far as I'm concerned, actions speak louder than words and when it came time to act, he set aside his own personal misgivings for the good of the team and their chances to compete for a title. Now there is a pro's pro.

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OT I just want everyone to know that I am going to continue doing my job for the next four years as I agreed to. I've decided that after I told everyone that my manager (whom I recommended for hire) sucks, yet he didn't get fired, maybe I'll just go back to work. Because it turns out -- get this! -- that if I don't work, I don't get paid. Maybe I should have complained more, or more publicly?? Was that my error?

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The acquisition of Andrew Wiggins was critical for the Golden State Warriors as they won their fourth championship in eight years.

Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

My empty soul is now overflowing with goldbloodedness… this should hold me over till training camp

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

What a crazy year for him. The All Star selection and "BamBam backlash," the series of lethal poster dunks he sprinkled about (mostly on KAT), his super steady play throughout, and then when it was needed most in the playoffs he turned the Wigg-nition key and the rest is history. So happy for him.

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

Daniel: And that’s why we should trade him along with James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody for Ben Simmons!

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I like how you’re thinking, Daniel. Wiggins trade value couldn’t be any higher.

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

Awesome summary. Truth!

Wiggins should be Kuminga’s model for contributing on both ends.

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

Stellar defense, great rebounding, shooting that comes and goes, but works very well within the Warriors offense, no ego, and a million volt smile.

I so hope we can find a way to keep him. He's been my favorite Dub practically since he stepped off of the plane.

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And I'm still loving the view...

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I see that Durant has decided to kiss and makeup with the Nets management, so the Nets starting lineup looks like Irving, Harris, Durant, Simmons, Claxton (I guess) at least for 1 year. It might be a good team if Simmons shows up, but not good enough to make me wish the Wiggins+future for Simmons trade had happened. I'm not seeing them as being better than the Celtics, Sixers, or Bucks.

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