Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
First overall pick Andrew Wiggins signed a four-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his future with the team remains in doubt.
Wiggins, who receives $5.5 million under the terms of the deal, is the subject of ongoing trade talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves centered around All-Star forward Kevin Love. The Cavaliers have not officially confirmed Wiggins is part of the deal, but sources around both teams imply the former Kansas star is indeed available if the Love trade can be consummated.
Wiggins also has a shoe endorsement deal with Adidas that will pay him up to $12 million over five years.
The No. 1 recruit in college basketball in 2013, Wiggins signed at Kansas to great acclaim, including a Sports Illustrated cover shoot comparing him to former Jayhawk and NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain — not in size, as Chamberlain was a dominant big man and Wiggins a 6-foot-7 athletic wing player — but potential impact.
Wiggins, 19, was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Big 12 in his only year at Kansas. In 35 games with the Jayhawks last year, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 block in 32.8 minutes per game. In four games during the 2014 NBA Summer League, Wiggins averaged a team-high 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game.
First-year coach David Blatt said at the conclusion of summer league that Wiggins was a part of the team’s foundation. Blatt envisions Wiggins as a shooting guard who could grow into a great complement to LeBron James.
But James didn’t mention Wiggins in his ‘I’m Coming Home’ essay that bull-horned his triumphant return to Ohio, sparking speculation that Wiggins would be moved to bring Love to the Cavs. More recently, James reportedly reached out to Love personally to discuss playing together along with All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving.
The Cavaliers also signed second-round pick Joe Harris, the 33rd overall pick in June, to a deal. The 6-6 guard played 135 games in four seasons at Virginia.
