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Warriors' Andrew Wiggins on Being Mentioned in NBA Trade Rumors: 'Out of My Control'

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVApril 17, 2024

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 16: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2024 Play-In Tournament on April 16, 2024 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors had a disappointing 2023-24 campaign that ultimately ended on Tuesday night following a loss to the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament.

It feels likely that changes will be coming to the roster, though Andrew Wiggins told reporters on Wednesday that he won't sweat the possibility of having his name floated in trade rumors.

95.7 The Game @957thegame

"I take care of what I can take care of. It's out of my control. I don't worry about it."<br><br>Andrew Wiggins on potentially being involved in trade talks this summer <a href="https://t.co/69xmsEjwpB">pic.twitter.com/69xmsEjwpB</a>

"I take care of what I can take care of. It's out of my control," the 29-year-old said. "I don't worry about it. All I can do is work hard, train hard and do what I can do."

Multiple reports have suggested that the Warriors could seek to move Wiggins this offseason.

In his first full campaign with the team in the 2020-21 season, Wiggins averaged 18.6 points per game, and a year later he was a key contributor to the Warriors' championship-winning side.

But he averaged a career-worst 13.2 points per game this season in just 27.0 minutes per game, also a career low. And with promising young wings in Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody on the roster, Wiggins' role may only further diminish going forward.

At this point for the Warriors, only a few players seem safe. Stephen Curry continues to play at a high level and will finish his career in the Bay Area, while Kuminga has emerged as a player worth building around. Moody and Brandin Podziemski seem likely to stick around as well.

Beyond that, however, it gets interesting.

Klay Thompson is heading to free agency and had a rough season. It's possible that the two sides will reunite, but not on the sort of massive contract he's garnered in the past.

Chris Paul is also set to hit free agency—the Warriors will assuredly release him given his completely non-guaranteed $30 million salary—and has said that he has no plans to retire, but it wouldn't be a shock if he sought a more prominent role elsewhere.

And then there's the elephant in the room—Draymond Green.

Green is worth more to the Warriors than he would be for many teams, and the combination of a fairly big contract—he's owed $24.1 million next year, $25.8 million in 2025-26 and has a $27.6 million player option in 2026-27—and his numerous suspensions could impact his trade market.

The Warriors have to be weary of the distractions he's caused and the time he's missed due to suspensions, but it's hard to see him going anywhere.

Wiggins may be tough to move as well, given his $26.2 million salary next year, $28.2 million salary in 2025-26 and his $30.1 million player option in 2026-27. But changes need to come to this roster, and plenty of teams still need solid contributors on the wing.

It may cost the Warriors an asset to move his contract elsewhere, but if they could free up that cap space, turn him into role players better suited for their current core or even flip him as a salary-matching asset in a trade for a star player, such a deal would make ample sense.