The Bobster wrote: ↑Tue Jun 14, 2022 2:19 pm
Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Tue Jun 14, 2022 2:03 pm
If we're bringing Ayton into this (because why not?), Wiggins has been consistently beating his man off of the dribble and finishing at the rim this series.
Will Ayton ever be able to do that?
Will Wiggins ever average 10 rebounds a game? Or shoot 60% in a season? (okay, how about 50%?)
Why are we comparing a 6'7" small forward to a 7' center?
Because JeremyG pointed out they are both former 1st overall picks that a lot of people didn’t think were worth the max.
Problem is Wiggins spent most of his max contract being considered one of the worst contracts in basketball. He’s now providing positive play, but he’s going into the last year of the deal.
I don’t think it’s a good comparison because it took until the 4th year of his max contract before he was actually useful. Also Minny had to attach a pick to him to move him. Also, he was a much worse player than Ayton is right now.
Yes Wiggins is showing that players can find a way to contribute later in their careers, but that’s never been the problem with Ayton. Nobody doubts that. We all know he can contribute, it’s about what he’s contributing. Right now what this team needs most is more on ball creation. Paying Ayton 30 million a year makes finding on ball creation very difficult.
It’s also important to point out that the Warriors willingness to pay ridiculous luxury tax fees is a huge part of this. Wiggins costs them a ton and they are willing to pay for that luxury. The suns could conceivably pay Ayton 30 million a year to be a 4th option, but Sarver would have to be willing to pay ridiculous luxury tax fees.
All this is to say, that I don’t think there’s a good comparison to be made about the Wiggins situation and the Ayton situation.