Mavs, Warriors Discuss Andrew Wiggins Trade: What Could ‘Player-for-Player’ Deal Look Like?
PHILADELPHIA — The Dallas Mavericks remain strongly linked in rumors to Golden State Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins ahead of the February 8 trade deadline. With a need to add talent around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, there have been plenty of names to keep tabs on lately.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania on "Run It Back" on FanDuel, the Mavs and Indiana Pacers are two teams to "keep an eye on" as trade suitors for Wiggins.
"The Mavericks and Pacers are two teams, I'm told, that are expressing interest in Wiggins to keep an eye on," Charania said on The Rally.
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Wiggins is playing out the first season of a four-year, $109 million contract but has struggled to live up to the value of his salary. He's averaged 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 42 games this season, providing substantially lower production than the 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists he's posted as career averages.
With the continued emergence of Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors have to be careful not only about how they are dulling out minutes and involving players offensively, but they need to navigate an expensive payroll. Regardless, they are not going to be in the market of moving big contracts for the sake of moving them.
"I don't think they're going to just move guys to move guys," Charania said. "I think The Warriors need true reasons if they're going to trade, whether it's a Wiggins, a Klay Thompson, or a Chris Paul."
Wiggins has been linked numerous times to the Mavs in various rumors. It was recently reported by Matt Moore of Action Network that Dallas has shown the "most interest" in Wiggins.
The Mavs clearly need to make upgrades on the wing, particularly by adding more size to the perimeter. A team with Doncic tends to produce an explosive offense but needs to have enough talent defensively to have a sufficient floor on that end. Dallas must determine if Wiggins can revitalize his career in those circumstances.
It remains to be seen how Golden State values the Mavs' role players in a potential trade for Wiggins. The contract of one of Tim Hardaway Jr., Grant Williams, Richaun Holmes, or Maxi Kleber would surely need to be involved for salary matching purposes, possibly with two of them included.
