Wiggins Not All That - Overrated?

[Kane3387]

It's an Insider Article so not all can see it. Here are some snippets on Wiggins and Marcus Smart.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog/_/name/nba_draft/id/9839066/andrew-wiggins-nba-draft-no-1-pick-not-fast

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Andrew Wiggins will be a very good NBA player someday, but he's a long ways away. It's completely unfair to put the supposed prize of the 2014 NBA draft class in the same sentence as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant.


During one three-hour practice, Wiggins misfired on jumper after jumper, took plays off and was practically invisible. Sure, he showed glimpses of the athleticism that have some putting him in elite company with NBA superstars. He's been blessed with incredible talent -- the length, quickness and athleticism that few possess even at the NBA level.

But Wiggins eventually blended in during the practice last week. It wasn't the first time he's disappeared. In fact, Kansas coaches maintain that the 6-foot-8 Canadian has yet to be the best player on the floor in any of their practices thus far. To take it one step further, he's rarely even one of the best two or three players on the floor.

"I want to get him to start playing hard all the time and also playing to his athletic ability," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "He doesn't do it consistently."

NBA scouts who have passed through Lawrence told me that they are unsure why everyone has labeled Wiggins as the clear-cut No. 1 overall pick.

"I certainly wasn't blown away by him," said one high-ranking NBA executive. "He was just OK. Average. I'm just not buying all this no-brainer stuff about him being the No. 1 pick. I just don't see it yet."

The Jayhawks have talent. Make no mistake about it. There are two other freshmen, skilled 7-footer Joel Embiid and 6-foot-5 shooting guard Wayne Selden, who could play their way into June's NBA lottery.

But Wiggins is supposed to be the prize of a loaded 2014 NBA draft. He shouldn't just blend in; he should be dominating.

I saw James in high school, watched Durant as a freshman at Texas and have seen other No. 1 picks such as John Wall and Kyrie Irving countless times. Those guys dominated nearly every time out, whether it was practice or a game.

To be sure, I like Wiggins -- both as a person and as a player. However, the expectations are too high for him, and I'm not sure he can handle it. Durant was quiet off the court, but not like Wiggins. In the span of a 15-minute interview, Wiggins spent much of the time looking at the ground. It wasn't just me, either. Others who have interviewed Wiggins lately had the same experience.

But this isn't about his lack of interviewing skills. Wiggins' effort is inconsistent, and while he could get away with that at the high school level at Huntington (W.Va.) Prep and in summer ball, he won't be able to do it in college -- and certainly not in the NBA.

"Maybe he'll wind up getting there this season, but he's a long, long way off right now," said another NBA guy who came through Lawrence in the preseason. "He looks like just another player. I've seen him a few times in the past, and to be honest, he hasn't been off-the-charts any of those times. I love his athleticism, but I worry about his intensity -- as well as other aspects of his game. He doesn't shoot it great, and he's got zero aura about him. Again, I'm not saying he can't get there -- but people are making far more of this kid than they should."

Wiggins is a freakish athlete, but there are plenty of high-level athletes in the NBA. Josh Smith is a high-level athlete, but that doesn't mean he'll ever be an NBA superstar.

Wiggins is a mediocre shooter. I'd guess he'll shoot somewhere around 30 percent from beyond the arc this season. Although he's an elite athlete and has terrific body control, his ballhandling also needs work. Once he refines his handle, he could be extremely effective in the half court. Right now, though, he has difficulty getting by defenders in tight spaces.

Wiggins hasn't looked the part of a future NBA star, but it's still early.

Other notes on Marcus Smart.

Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart could have gone somewhere in the top half of the lottery this past June but decided to return to school and improve his floor game. It's still a work in progress, but Smart looks far more comfortable running the team now. He's making the simple pass more often than trying to make a spectacular one. Smart possesses all the intangibles (leadership, toughness) and is more athletic than people realize. He doesn't always use his athleticism with high-flying dunks, though.

Smart's biggest drawback is his perimeter shot, and although mechanically it doesn't look broken, he's still a mediocre (at best) shooter from deep. Smart will need to improve this aspect of his game at the NBA level, and my guess is that with his work ethic, he can accomplish this in time. Smart is no worse off in this aspect of his game than Derrick Rose was at the same point in his career. Smart might slide a few spots from where he was slated to go in last year's draft, but he's not worried about that. He's more concerned with being ready when he gets to the next level.

[PhoSita]

So maybe Wiggins has a little bit of Vince Carter in him.


Still, I'll judge him by how he performs when stuff actually matters.

[Cman]

So not only will we suck this year, but the top draft pick isn't that good? Wind out of my sails...

[JBcat]

I posted the same article in the "assuming Wiggins goes first" thread.  Maybe it can be merged? 

[Eddie20]

So not only will we suck this year, but the top draft pick isn't that good? Wind out of my sails...

I wouldn't worry too much. Not only am I not buying it, but Dick Vitale went as far as to say that this is the best freshman class he's seen in the last 35 years. This draft is absolutely loaded and I can't think of a better time to "suck".

[gpap]

So not only will we suck this year, but the top draft pick isn't that good? Wind out of my sails...

I wouldn't worry too much. Not only am I not buying it, but Dick Vitale went as far as to say that this is the best freshman class he's seen in the last 35 years. This draft is absolutely loaded and I can't think of a better time to "suck".

Pretty sure there's never a good time to suck. Also, there's a very good chance you could suck and then not even draft a very good player the following year. Then what?

Guess there's always the Harlem Globetrotters

[Eddie20]

So not only will we suck this year, but the top draft pick isn't that good? Wind out of my sails...

I wouldn't worry too much. Not only am I not buying it, but Dick Vitale went as far as to say that this is the best freshman class he's seen in the last 35 years. This draft is absolutely loaded and I can't think of a better time to "suck".

Pretty sure there's never a good time to suck. Also, there's a very good chance you could suck and then not even draft a very good player the following year. Then what?

Not sure about that. Do you think SA regrets being horrible the year Robinson went down and they landed Duncan? That's a perfect example of being bad at the right time. This draft is so loaded that our rebuilding process could be much quicker than drafting highly in other years. Is it a perfect system? No, obviously not. However, it allows us the opportunity to land a transcendent player to lead us into the next era. I think it's a much better approach then trying to clear cap space and praying to make a big free agent signing. Detroit tried that and got Charlie V and Gordon. Chicago were the lucky ones who landed Boozer.

[VitorSullyandKOFan]

After watching a lot of highlights from this draft class I love Julius Randle game he looks like Chris Webber I see a future superstar in him. Also Mario Hezonja is a beast a very talented kid but very immature. Hopefully we get a top 5 pick this year.

[fitzhickey]

I want Aussie Dante or Randle if we don't get wiggins or he proves to be overrated

[aporel#18]

Stern's mini-me Silver won't let us get the #1 pick, so our best case scenario might be 4th or 5th pick.

I doubt Wiggins slips to the 4th or 5th pick, but I hope he keeps mailing it and all those experts label him "overrated". He would be our ideal 2 guard, a Scottie Pippen on D with the ability to go to the basket at will and enough time to develop a better jumpshot. I'll take that.

You put Kelly and Sully spreading the court, opening lanes to Rondo, Wiggins and Green. Not happening, but one can dream.

[BballTim]

NBA scouts who have passed through Lawrence told me that they are unsure why everyone has labeled Wiggins as the clear-cut No. 1 overall pick.

"I certainly wasn't blown away by him," said one high-ranking NBA executive. "He was just OK. Average. I'm just not buying all this no-brainer stuff about him being the No. 1 pick. I just don't see it yet."

  This is pretty much the opposite of what I've heard from his proponents. He's supposedly a can't miss superstar, according to *all* the scouts.

[Birdman]

I always say wait until after the college basketball season to judge someone...u might be great in HS but college is a whole different game..but its waaaay to early to judge someone..Wiggins might be great or he may not, just have to wait and see

[chambers]

I've said since day one the best player 8n this draft is Jabari Parker. Embid has incredible potential. I think Wiggins is good but the pressure and his poor shot will build against him.

Danny wants Jabari badly (in my opinion) and he'll give up pretty much everyone to get him. He's got the most complete game of all these guys and will only get slimmer and stronger and more athletic. His shot is beautiful and he can become a better version of Carmelo that plays defense and has the craftiness of Paul Pierce.

[Birdman]

Also can Wiggins handle the pressure of being touted as a great player and trying to prove it?? A lot of players cant do it

[PhoSita]

NBA scouts who have passed through Lawrence told me that they are unsure why everyone has labeled Wiggins as the clear-cut No. 1 overall pick.

"I certainly wasn't blown away by him," said one high-ranking NBA executive. "He was just OK. Average. I'm just not buying all this no-brainer stuff about him being the No. 1 pick. I just don't see it yet."

  This is pretty much the opposite of what I've heard from his proponents. He's supposedly a can't miss superstar, according to *all* the scouts.

I imagine there's some kernel of truth in this contrarian opinion from the article, but I feel like mostly somebody just wanted to get attention by saying the opposite of what everybody else was saying.