The Warriors' dilemma.
The new NBA season has begun, but the Warriors are not showing the momentum to win the championship. Their main players, Curry, Thompson and Green, are no longer young and have experienced multiple injuries. Their rookie Kuminga has a lot of potential, but it will take time to adjust to the pace and intensity of the league. Their other players also don't bring enough support and consistency to the team. Among them, Andrew Wiggins is a controversial player.
Wiggins' performance.
Wiggins was traded to the Warriors by the Timberwolves in February 2020, when he was expected to be the Warriors' Big Three, or at least a reliable scorer and defender. However, Wiggins didn't live up to expectations, averaging points per game from 22 for the Timberwolves4 points down to 18 for the Warriors6 points, and his shooting percentage also went from 458% down to 439%。His defense has improved, but it is still not enough to offset his inefficiency and passivity on the offensive end. Wiggins' performance left both Warriors management and fans disappointed and dissatisfied.
Possibility of three-way trading.
According to Warriors reporter Tim Kawami, the Warriors are now open to trading Wiggins as far as he knows. It is reported that if Kuminga can become the Warriors' No. 3 pick, the Warriors are willing to negotiate a trade for Wiggins with other teams. According to the American media "fadeaway world", it is very likely that the Warriors management is currently brewing with the 76ers and Rockets two teams, and a three-way deal to send Wiggins away. The deal is as follows: The Warriors send Andrew Wiggins for Nicholas Batum + Jock Landale + 2 future first-round picks + 2 future second-round picks. The 76ers sent Nicholas Batum + Robert Covington + a 2026 Thunder first-round pick + a 2028 Clippers first-round pick to get Andrew Wiggins. The Rockets sent Jock Landale + a 2024 Warriors second-round pick + a 2024 Thunder second-round pick to get Robert Covington.
The impact of the transaction.
If this deal does happen, it will have different implications for all three teams. For the Warriors, they could move away from Wiggins' hefty contract and free up more salary space while acquiring two experienced role players and multiple draft picks to add depth and flexibility to the team. For the 76ers, they can get a young scorer and form a big three with Embiid and Simmons to improve the team's offensive firepower and roster balance. For the Rockets, they can get a good 3-and-D player who can form an interior combination with Wood and Green to enhance the team's defense and rebounding capabilities.
Conclusion. To sum up, this three-way deal may be a plan that is beneficial to all parties, but whether it can be actually realized depends on the willingness of the teams and changes in the market. Whether the Warriors are willing to give up Wiggins, whether the 76ers are willing to give up Covington, and whether the Rockets are willing to give up Landale are all factors to consider. Regardless, we're looking forward to seeing the Warriors get back to the top, the 76ers break through the bottleneck, and the Rockets rebuild successfully.