The Golden State Warriors view Andrew Wiggins as final piece of Big 4

While Andrew Wiggins‘ name may be hot in trade rumors, the Golden State Warriors, instead of a potential trade, plan to keep him as a crux of their future.

Is Andrew Wiggins apart of the Golden State Warriors big four? Is there even a big four?

According to general manager Bob Myers who spoke with The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, he is. Wiggins, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green will likely make up 80% of the team’s starting lineup next season.

That is, if Wiggins isn’t traded.

All reports from Golden State’s camp is that they’ll be fine rolling into next season with Wiggins as the team’s starting small forward. After being brought in prior to the 2020 trade deadline, Wiggins played in 12 games for the Warriors.

A former No. 1 overall pick, the team knows what they’ll get from Wiggins, and if his defensive intensity can pick up and he can defend larger small forwards like the team hopes, then keeping him on the roster could be the right play.

However, many consider his defense an issue, and Wiggins shot selection, given that he isn’t too great of an outside shooter, has been an issue in the past. Settling for long two-point field goals isn’t a motto of the Warriors franchise.

Trading Wiggins may be an issue as well, making it easier to keep the 6-foot-7 forward. The former Rookie of the Year, Wiggins is set to make over $33 million in his last contracted season which will be the 2022-2023 year.

For his production, that’s a bad contract.

That’s what made the Wolves chip in a highly coveted first-round pick in 2021 in order to bring in star guard D’Angelo Russell. If he can become this team’s Harrison Barnes, the chemistry and dynamic of the roster will make far more sense.

The Warriors have what it takes to return to the Finals, and for now, they plan to take Wiggins there with them.