The Golden State Warriors have recently been linked to a familiar name -- current Miami Heat player Andrew Wiggins. The 6-foot-7 wing played a major role in the Warriors’ surprising run to the 2022 NBA championship, and now he could play an important role in bringing familiarity during a period of instability following Jimmy Butler's season-ending injury.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein on Friday, Golden State will explore a move for Wiggins just 12 months after dealing him in the blockbuster Jimmy Butler trade. There's a rather obvious framework in place that would include giving up Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield and some draft capital.
Andrew Wiggins would give Warriors familiarity in time of crisis
First of all, Wiggins knows Steve Kerr’s system and has already thrived in it during his Warriors tenure, meaning he wouldn’t require an adjustment period to settle in — a factor that’s more crucial than it might seem. Building championship-caliber chemistry takes time, even if Jimmy Butler has made it look seamless.
If Golden State were to acquire players like Trey Murphy III or Michael Porter Jr., they would naturally need a runway to adapt to new schemes and learn how to play alongside Stephen Curry — and even Draymond Green. With roughly 35 games left on the schedule, the Warriors are simply running out of time.
Andrew Wiggins is still an elite two-way fit
Wiggins has been a lockdown defender this season, allowing the fewest points per possession when guarding isolations (0.32), per Stat Defender. His three-point shot has remained consistent, as he’s shooting just under 40 percent on nearly five attempts per game and ranking among the league’s best outside shooters in the fourth quarter this season (52.4%).
That combination of elite defense and trustworthy shooting is exactly what Golden State needs in its starting lineup. Despite the small sample size (three games), the Curry–Melton–Green–Wiggins four-man lineup has posted eye-popping numbers on both ends, boasting a 139.2 offensive rating, a 97.9 defensive rating, and a 3–0 record over that span.
The center spot would remain the biggest question mark. Additional shooting in the form of size would truly legitimize the entire lineup. Quinten Post’s name naturally comes up, as the Dutch big man is shooting 34.8 percent from three on over four attempts per game. While Al Horford’s experience could pay dividends when playoff time comes — if it ever does.
Keeping Butler past the deadline could also give Golden State another genuine shot at contention next year, assuming the 6x All-Star makes the resounding comeback he predicted on social media. But it would come at a price.
Draymond Green has shown clear regression so far this season, averaging 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.8 turnovers per game while shooting just 42.6 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from deep.If his struggles persist, Golden State would be forced to have uncomfortable conversations with the 14-year veteran, who holds a player option for next season worth north of $27 million.