Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins is not harboring any negative feelings about last year's trade that sent him to the Bay Area.
Prior to last season's trade deadline, Wiggins was dealt — along with a top-three protected first-round pick — from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Warriors in exchange for point guard D'Angelo Russell.
In five-plus seasons in the Twin Cities, the 2014 no.1 overall pick averaged 19.7 points per game, but his propensity for inefficient shooting and lack of contributions elsewhere soured his reputation around the league and with some Wolves fans. (Jimmy Butler didn't help.)
Ahead of his first game back in Minnesota on Monday, Wiggins spoke positively about the trade and the Wolves organization, while acknowledging the fan base's understandable dissatisfaction with his tenure.
“Shoot, they probably got a lot of mixed feelings,” Wiggins told Chris Hine of the Star Tribune. “So it is what it is over there. Some might love me. Some might hate me. … They might boo you and they might say some stuff during the game, but once I left the atmosphere and I left Target Center, I never felt no negativity. Whatever was left was left in the gym. Once I left that world, left Target Center, there was never no disrespect or nothing like that around the city. So it was cool.”
Since the change of scenery, Wiggins has made strides in his all-around game under the stewardship of a winning organization. Through 16 games this season with the Warriors, the 25-year old wing is averaging 19.5 PPG while setting career-highs in rebounds per game (5.6) and three-point percentage (40.7). He's played a key role in the team's 8-8 start.
Overall, in 28 games in Golden State since the trade, Wiggins's Win Shares per 48 minutes (.062) is significantly higher than his mark in Minnesota (.044).
“Looking back, I feel like [the trade] worked in the best favor for both teams,” Wiggins said. “The Warriors needed a wing that could defend and just play his game, and Minnesota — they needed someone that could play with [Karl-Anthony Towns], create with KAT, playmake. They needed a PG, you know? I feel like it worked out in the best favor for both.”
Russell, 24, has put up 20.5 points and 5.5 assists per game this season, but Minnesota has struggled (4-11) without his best buddy Towns.
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