Andrew Wiggins thinks he’s earned a max contract from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he’s willing to say so publicly to get one. The Timberwolves star says he’s earned max money in his first three seasons in the league.
Wiggins talked to Sports Illustrated at an adidas event in Las Vegas earlier this week and reiterated his strong words about his contract status. Basically, the Timberwolves should pay him because he’s worth a max deal.
While Wiggins said that he is taking a “day by day” approach to the contract discussions, he didn’t waver when asked whether he was worthy of a max contract, which could reach $148 million over five years with a starting salary of $25.5 million. “I definitely do,” Wiggins told The Crossover. “Nothing less.”
But because everything is also about Kyrie Irving these days, there was even some talk that Wiggins could get shipped back to Cleveland in a deal that would unite Jimmy Butler with Irving in Minnesota. So it seems the Wolves have some options if they don’t want to give Wiggins a max deal.
If Irving goes elsewhere and the Timberwolves keep Wiggins, though, he says it will be an exciting year in Minnesota.
“We have great pieces, we added great pieces, and we have a great coaching staff,” Wiggins told The Crossover during an interview promoting his Adidas Crazy Explosive 2017 sneakers. “I think this year is the year.”
The Wolves have gotten lost in the shuffle a bit since the deal for Butler came before all the Paul George and Kyrie Irving hoopla, but Wiggins is right. No matter what happens until October, the team has done enough for fans to get excited about what happens once everything is settled and they finally take the floor.
