Andrew Wiggins' Preseason Debut Hinted at Fantasy Basketball Value
Fantasy basketball owners understand how valuable a player can be if he stuffs the stat sheet with impressive totals in a number of different categories, and that is exactly what No. 1 draft pick Andrew Wiggins did in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ preseason opener against the Indiana Pacers.
It was a sign of things to come.
While the 103-90 victory for Indiana was likely cathartic for Pacers fans who saw Lance Stephenson sign with Charlotte and Paul George go down with a serious leg injury during the summer, the performance of Wiggins was noteworthy.
He finished with 18 points, hit both of his three-point attempts, was 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists, tallied three blocks and even picked up a steal. What’s more, Wiggins finished the game with zero turnovers.
We can break those stats down line by line if we are talking about Wiggins’ fantasy value.
For one, the 18 points are certainly nice, especially since he only shot 4-of-11 from the field. What that implies is that he will be a high-volume scorer even when he is struggling with his shot because he can get to the free-throw line with his explosive first step and strength at the rim.
In fact, he shot 10 free throws against Indiana and converted eight.
Elsewhere, Wiggins brought the expected intensity and athleticism to the defensive end. On the floor, that matters because he can stay in front of ball-handlers with athleticism and quickness, but in the fantasy realm, that means blocks and steals. The Timberwolves may even rely on him to guard the opponent’s best player for stretches of time this season, which provides even more opportunity to rack up some defensive stats.
Remember, there were those who were concerned that the Cleveland Cavaliers were giving up a potentially elite defender in Wiggins as part of the Kevin Love trade. Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star seemed impressed by Wiggins’ early defense:
At 6’8”, the rebounds will also be a part of his arsenal, and they should come at a more consistent rate once he becomes fully accustomed to the physicality of the NBA game. Rebounds, just like the other major statistics on the basketball court, are critical for fantasy purposes.
The three assists and zero turnovers line is also enticing because rookies often make mistakes with the basketball, especially No. 1 draft picks who may be trying to do too much. Wiggins played within the flow of the game and looked for his teammates when the situation called for it.
A solid assist-to-turnover ratio is good for both the Timberwolves and fantasy owners.
So is the three-point shooting, and it has to be encouraging that he knocked down both attempts in the first preseason game. His athleticism is a given, but if Wiggins can find some consistency with the shooting stroke, he will gradually develop into an all-around superstar.
While the impressive statistics are clearly important for fantasy owners, let’s not overlook the fact that we are discussing a single preseason game. That is as small as sample sizes come, so the 32 minutes played is actually the most promising thing about Wiggins’ debut from a fantasy standpoint.
It is clear that the Timberwolves are not going to be afraid to use him for heavy minutes if they are playing him 32 minutes in the preseason opener, which was the most on the team. While Minnesota likely sees increased playing time as an opportunity for Wiggins to improve and become accustomed to the NBA game, fantasy owners understand that the only way you can stuff the stat sheet is by actually being on the court.
The man who will designate those minutes, head coach Flip Saunders, discussed Wiggins’ game, via Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune:
"You could see today when you watch him, he’s always going to get two or three ‘aahs’ a game. You know, ‘Ooh-aahs’ by what he does. You can see he’s not just an athlete. He’s skilled. He can get his shot when he wants. He made a couple threes (2-for-2), he got to the free-throw line (8-for-10). The more he plays with veteran guys, the more he’ll improve.
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If Wiggins is going to improve from what was already an impressive preseason opener, he should be on the radar of fantasy basketball owners everywhere as the season approaches.
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