The Minnesota Timberwolves are finally on the verge of making it back to the playoffs after an absence of more than a decade, but maybe all isn’t well in the Midwest. The team’s core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler, and Andrew Wiggins has performed well under head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Wiggins though, according to reports from Darren Wolfson is unhappy with the role he is being asked to play.
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Last June, Minnesota made the franchise-altering trade for Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls. Butler, a 3-time All-Star, and a proficient scoring has helped to lift the team to new heights. Towns’ production has continued to play a pivotal part in the Timberwolves success.
Wiggins, however, has had to make some sacrifices for the greater good of the team. Down are Wiggins shot attempts from the field and his percentages aren’t great – shooting 44 percent from the field and 32 percent from three. The former number one overall pick by the Cavaliers in 2014 is less of a ball-handler for the Wolves and taken on the role of a shooter off the catch.
Before going down with a knee injury, Butler was the team’s closer and offensive leader. This season Wiggins is seeing a decrease in field goal attempts, 15.9 per game, and shooting a career low in free throws at 3.9 per game.
Since the Butler injury after the All-Star break, Wiggins is upping his production on the court and is averaging 20.8 points, 2.3 assists, and shooting 39 percent from three.
The Western Conference is a gauntlet of a race, and without the services of Butler, the sixth-seeded Timberwolves will need Wiggins to stay aggressive if they want a continue to compete for a postseason berth.
The Timberwolves signed Wiggins to a five-year $148 million contract on the condition that Wiggins continues to improve as a player.
