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Golden State Warriors: Andrew Wiggins is interesting twist to old system

By Tony Pesta

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 20, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 20, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Andrew Wiggins is going to bring an interesting twist to the Golden State Warriors’ championship proven offensive system.

Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors created one of the most potent offensive schemes in NBA history last decade. As the roster has undergone some major changes, the team faces a new challenge in implementing Andrew Wiggins into the system.

Wiggins is a talented scorer. In fact, that’s perhaps the only thing about his game that has been consistently good since his rookie season. He is a career 19.7 points per game scorer and became the 11th youngest player to reach 8,000 total points earlier in the season.

Starting at small forward, Wiggins has big shoes to fill for the Warriors. Previously in this position was Kevin Durant, a 10-time All-Star and two-time Finals MVP. The Warriors coasted to back-to-back titles behind Durant’s elite scoring ability at the three.

Luckily for Wiggins, he isn’t being asked to replace KD. As Kerr told reporters yesterday, the Dubs aren’t looking for Wiggins to become a star at all. Rather, he is expected to thrive in his role alongside a team with a number of already established stars.

See, Wiggins isn’t going to become Durant 2.0. Instead, he should be setting his goals to be a more effective version of Harrison Barnes.

Back when the Warriors were still a young and unproven squad, Barnes played the supporting role as the Dubs third-best option offensively. Nobody would ever ask Barnes to score more than the 10.1 points he averaged during his time in Golden State.

For Wiggins, it should take minimum effort to be more productive than Barnes. Wiggins is miles better as an offensive talent and will thrive if given the same expectations as Barnes.

With the same big three in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, it should come as no surprise if the Dubs attempt to replicate the system that helped them win 73 games in 2016. Except for this time, they will have a 24-year old pure scorer playing the small forward position.

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This will add an interesting wrinkle to the Warriors offense. They won’t be as deadly as they were with Kevin Durant but this does offer a chance for an aging group of stars to prove themselves once again with a solid supporting cast.

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