Golden State Warriors: Three logical trade destinations for Andrew Wiggins

As the February 8 trade deadlines draws closer, it’s unlikely the Golden State Warriors stand pat with a roster that’s procured a disappointing 16-17 record to this point of the season.

Few, if any outside Stephen Curry, would be considered untouchable before the deadline. One of the Warrior veterans, including Chris Paul, Draymond Green and/or Andrew Wiggins could be moved, while even Klay Thompson was referenced by ESPN’s Bobby Marks in his trade deadline preview.

Then you have the Golden State young players, namely third-year lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Rookie pair Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis would also hold value based on their impressive production thus far.

Of the players mentioned, Wiggins may be the one becoming more and more likely to be dealt before the deadline. Recently, The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami reported the Warriors willingness to trade Wiggins should the opportunity arise.

Andrew Wiggins has emerged as a potential trade candidate – which rival teams are likely to be interested in the Golden State Warriors’ forward?
Golden State won’t move Wiggins just for the sake of it — they’ll want to accrue a major upgrade that allows them to increase their playoff credentials and anything beyond. In saying that, the franchise will need to find a trade partner who has interest in the Canadian.

Wiggins has $84.7 million remaining on his contract over the next three seasons. That’s a moveable deal, although its value to rival teams would be determined on their optimism in getting Wiggins back to his best form. While he should theoretically be in his prime at 28-years-old, Wiggins is playing through a career-worst season that’s seen him demoted to the bench over the last 10 games.

Still, his prototypical 3-and-D skillset is a valuable asset across the league. Clearly there’ll be teams more in need of a Wiggins-type than others, so who could emerge as a trade partner should Golden State wish to move on from the 2022 All-Star?
1. Toronto Raptors
One deal that continues to be speculated is a trade with the Toronto Raptors, particularly if the Warriors hold interest in adding two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam.

A move home to Canada could rejuvenate Wiggins, allowing him to return to the kind of two-way production that proved so valuable two seasons ago and especially in Golden State’s triumphant postseason.

After trading O.G. Anunoby to the New York Knicks in the last few days, Toronto does have a need for another high-level defender to partner with franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes. R.J. Barrett is not that player, neither is Immanuel Quickley. Wiggins could be.

Offensively, Wiggins could take on a similar role that he’s filled for the Warriors over the last few seasons — primarily playing an off-ball game predicated on catch-and-shoot threes and slashing to the basket. Barnes, Barrett and Quickley would take on much of the offensive load, with Wiggins providing the foil while still holding the capacity to attack closeouts and create his own shot when required.

Raptors fans may suggest that Barrett and Wiggins overlap a little too much, not to mention the pair’s inconsistent nature that can often cause frustrating. However, there should be optimism that a starting five of Quickley, Barrett, Wiggins, Barnes and Jakob Poeltl could work.

It’s worth noting that Wiggins makes around $13 million less than Siakam, meaning Golden State would have to give up much more in the way of salary and young + future assets.

2. Atlanta Hawks
Much like the Warriors, the Atlanta Hawks are falling far below expectation just over 30 games into the season. Entering with playoff aspirations, Quin Snyder’s men have fallen flat to a 13-19 record that places them 11th in the Eastern Conference.

The Hawks are expected to be active before the deadline as a result, with the franchise perhaps most heavily linked with Siakam having had conversations with the Raptors dating back to the offseason.

Yet despite the Siakam interest, you could make the argument Atlanta should be more in the market for a two-way wing like Wiggins. While pairing Siakam with Trae Young does make some sense, where would that leave one of the league’s most improved players in Jalen Johnson?

The 22-year-old has seemingly emerged as the Hawks starting power-forward of the future — Johnson has more than doubled his points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes this season as opposed to last.

Atlanta also holds Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, leaving a crowd for minutes at the four and five should they add Siakam without subtracting that pair or Johnson. Their small-forward spot is far less certain, with neither De’Andre Hunter or Saddiq Bey taking control of the position in a way they’d probably hoped.

Wiggins could be an upgrade there, immediately becoming the primary point-of-attack defender for a team ranked 27th on that end of the floor. Working out what they’d send back to Golden State is another conversation, particularly given the Warriors are unlikely to want another guard in Dejounte Murray or Bogdan Bogdanovic.

3. Dallas Mavericks
Moving Wiggins to the Dallas Mavericks would be a risk of sorts for the Warriors given they’re a direct competitor in the Western Conference. Regardless, the Mavericks would be a team that could hold interest in adding more perimeter defense to support the offensive firepower provided by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Having Wiggins at the point-of-attack and Dereck Lively II on the interior would boost a defense that currently ranks 23rd in the league. Dallas know what Wiggins can do at his best, having been on the receiving end of perhaps his career-best form in the 2022 Western Conference Finals.

On the offensive end, we’ve seen what Doncic can do in terms of his gravity and passing leading to open looks for teammates. Golden State witnessed that in a recent matchup between the two teams where the Slovenian star fed the likes of Dante Exum and Josh Green who combined for 37 points.

Wiggins is a far more talented offensive player than Exum, Green, Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr., and probably a more rounded one than Tim Hardaway Jr. If that quartet can profit playing alongside Doncic, then adding Wiggins could yield even better results.

Again, as is the case with the Hawks, it’s difficult to envisage what sort of package Dallas would put together that makes Golden State take notice. In their search for an upgrade, the Warriors are likely to make a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 trade involving Wiggins, rather than bring back role players that only adds further questions to Steve Kerr’s loaded rotation.