Golden State Warriors latest NBA trade rumors hint at Andrew Wiggins departure
There's no denying that Andrew Wiggins was an integral piece during the Golden State Warriors' 2022 championship run. However, he has not looked the same this season as the Warriors continue to struggle to string together victories. With the February trade deadline approaching, Wiggins' name has been included in rumors.
The Golden State Warriors' 2023-24 season has not been pretty. Be that as it may, Stephen Curry remains one of the best players in the league today, who could use better pieces around him. In that scenario, the Warriors could play their hands in trading some of their players, such as Andrew Wiggins, as per The Athletic's Tim Kawakami.
"I think [the Warriors] are going to trade Andrew Wiggins," Kawakami said. "He's the first decision. What can they get for him? What do they have to do to move off of him?"
What kind of trade packages the Warriors will get once they officially make Wiggins available to be moved remains to be seen. He is not the same player he was during his first season at Golden State, but he could still be a tremendous asset to another team under the right circumstances.
His shooting numbers may be down, but Wiggins' defense remains a plus for any franchise that possibly lands him. This season, the Warriors forward averages 11.7 points (41.8% shooting, including 29.8% from 3-point range) and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Weighing on Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins' trade value
NBA reporter Marc Stein discussed the interesting case regarding Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins' trade value on his "The Stein Line" podcast.
"The question persists, what sort of market exists for Wiggins?" Stein said. "Even though he possesses what is regarded as a team-friendly contract, so soon after he was relegated from the Warriors' starting lineup? Wiggins, 28, is in Year 1 of a four-year, $109 million deal."
For starters, Golden State will have to be cautious with its next move for Wiggins, considering the kind of assets it might receive in exchange. His inconsistent season with the Warriors will most likely make it challenging for the organization to move him.
The Golden State Warriors don't have to trade for Wiggins now and could spend the offseason further evaluating his value along with possible trade packages. Considering that Curry is still playing at an elite level, the team can't afford costly mistakes in providing suitable roster pieces around him.
Moreover, the Warriors are in 12th place (17-20 record) in the Western Conference standings, losing six of their last 10 games. Whether it's a roster shake-up or rotation changes, one thing's clear: this season has not gone down the way the organization could have envisioned.