Andrew Wiggins, the highly-touted first-overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft, ably danced around the topic of his reported trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a trade that will send him and last year’s disappointing top pick Anthony Bennett to the Wolves in exchange for All-Star power forward Kevin Love.
The backdrop of the story is last week’s apparent agreement in principle, where the Cavaliers will trade Wiggins, Bennett, and a future first-round draft selection to Minnesota, in exchange for Love. The trade, should it push forward, will have Love team up with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving as a new “Big Three” with potential of sending the Cavs to the NBA Finals. The trade, however, cannot be completed until August 23, which is the first month from the time Wiggins signed his rookie contract.
With this trade looming, Wiggins was naturally asked a lot of questions regarding the deal in his first press appearance since the trade was first announced. ”Whatever happens is out of my control,” said the former Kansas Jayhawks star, who spoke Monday at a promotional event in his hometown of Toronto. ”I’m not worrying about it right now.” Wiggins added that his one-year stint with the Jayhawks prepared him for such moments, as the University of Kansas “(treats its) basketball players like rock stars.”
In a separate interview Sunday, Wiggins’ former Jayhawks coach Bill Self claimed that Wiggins had told him he’d be happy to play for the Timberwolves, as he could become the team’s franchise player following Love’s departure. ”Even though in a weird way everybody would love the opportunity to play with LeBron because you’re guaranteed winning, for the longevity of his career, he needs to develop that mindset to be the guy, for him to be great, and I think being Minnesota will help him do that,” said Self. Wiggins, however, asserted that he could “play anywhere” when reporters asked him about Self’s comments.