It wasn’t that long ago that the internet was clamoring over Andrew Wiggins’ high school mixtapes and comparisons to LeBron James were a common topic of discussion. Six years later and he’ll be entering his fourth NBA season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. With him entering the last year of his rookie deal, the team and Wiggins have begun contraction negotiations on a five-year deal worth around $150 million.
The hefty contract shouldn’t come as a surprise as Wiggins told Ben Gollliver of Sports Illustrated that he believes that he’s worth “nothing less” than the max. Wiggins let his worth be known and regardless of his claim, he’s going to receive a very lucrative long-term contract from the team.
Despite being in contract extension negotiations with Minnesota, Wiggins’ name surfaced in trade rumors involving him heading back to the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to a source, the team isn’t actively looking to trade Wiggins as they’re focused on completing an extension prior to the extension deadline.
I'm told the Timberwolves aren't actively looking to trade Andrew Wiggins. Focused on an extension and upcoming season with current roster.
— Clevis Murray (@ClevisMurray) August 2, 2017
The rookie-scale extension deadline should be Oct. 16, 2017, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, per the new CBA.
The same source also stated the team wants to see what this revamped Timberwolves team can accomplish led by Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler.
Minnesota has been absent since from the playoffs since 2004, the longest ongoing drought of any franchise in the association.
