What would you pay just to be rid of Andrew Wiggins’ contract?



In framing the discussion over the Timberwolves’ acquisition of D’Angelo Russell, I don’t think enough attention is being paid to the reality sitting right in front of Minnesota’s face: That they had massively erred by giving a max contract to such an ordinary player in Wiggins. Yes, he can periodically do a convincing impression of an All-Star, but even now, in his sixth season, his sum total on-court achievements are not hugely discernible from players who make a fraction of the money.



If you don’t believe me, compare the stats of Wiggins and the man he’ll be replacing in Golden State. No, not Russell – I’m talking about Alec Burks, who signed a minimum contract this summer and was traded to Philadelphia on Thursday for a package of second-round picks:



Burks: 26.6 pts, 7.8 reb, 5.2 ast per 100, 55.2 TS%, 16.3 PER.Wiggins: 30.3 pts, 7.0 reb,...