Utah Jazz: 5 Potential SF Replacements if Hayward Leaves as Free Agent

Andrew Wiggins

After being drafted number one overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014, Andrew Wiggins was quickly traded away to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He came into the league as one of the most hyped players in recent years drawing comparisons to the all-time great LeBron James.

And while he certainly hasn’t quite lived up to that level of expectations, there’s no denying that he has been a special player in his short two and a half years in the league. He’s averaging 21.7 points per game this season and each year has improved his jump shot, which was one of his perceived weaknesses coming into the league.

At just 21 years old, the sky is the limit for Wiggins’ potential and while he still has a long ways to go in a lot of areas, there’s plenty of reason to believe that he will still become an All-Star caliber player that can compete with the best of the best.

Why it Would Work

While it seems unlikely that the Wolves would want to move a former number one pick such as Wiggins who has untapped superstar potential, the team has certainly under-performed this season. Slated by many, including NBA GMs, as the team that would be the most improved in 2016-17, their current record of 11-24 has left a lot to be desired.

In fact, early in the season there were several reports that head coach and team president Tom Thibodeau intended to move some of his young talent to bring veteran experience into Minnesota.

Now, that obviously hasn’t happened yet and if those reports are accurate, there’s no telling whether Thibodeau was referring to any of his big three of Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns or Zach LaVine. However, to bring in any sort of value, it’s quite possible that he would have been.

And while Wiggins was very highly touted prior to being drafted, it’s plausible that given the choice, Thibodeau would rather keep Towns and try to land greater value for his team by trading Wiggins.

Therefore, if Minnesota fails to make a move during the season and continues with their disappointing trend to end the year then perhaps a swap that sends Wiggins to Utah could be in order if Hayward decides to test the waters elsewhere.

Due to their moves this offseason, Utah does now have a selection of vets and perhaps by involving another team as well, the Jazz could find a way to bring Wiggins to Utah while satisfying Minnesota’s supposed craving for more experienced players.

And adding Wiggins to the mix would give them a player with elite athleticism to help significantly bolster the offense. Given that at times the Jazz seem to go stagnant, a dose of Wiggins could do the team a lot of good. His scoring would replace Hayward’s and while he’s not as good of a shooter, his potential to grow and improve would fit on a still young Jazz team that could allow him to become something truly special.

Why It Wouldn’t Work

While it’s nice to dream that Thibodeau would be so willing to give up a guy like Wiggins, it just doesn’t seem quite likely. The Wolves have been bad, but the former number one draft pick is hardly to blame. In fact, he and the team’s other two leading scorers, Towns and LaVine, have largely kept the team afloat.

It’s probable that if Thibodeau were to move some of his young talent, it would be in the form of some of his role players, not his stars. Furthermore, even if a third team is involved, the Jazz may not boast the right kind of players to satisfy the demands of the Wolves or that hypothetical other team involved. Therefore, stripping Wiggins away could prove to be a very difficult task.

Yet even if a trade was able to be worked out, there’s also no guarantee that Wiggins would indeed be a good fit for the Jazz. He isn’t reputed for his defense, which has been the calling card of Quin Snyder’s squad during his tenure.

Furthermore, while the Jazz are still in the process of going through a youth movement, they’re finally starting to break their way out of that as their former young draft picks are getting more experience and they’ve added some seasoned vets. In that regard, adding Wiggins could feel like a step backwards.

Nevertheless, there’s no doubting his potential, so if Wiggins does end up on the trade block, the Jazz would be hard-pressed to not at least consider his services as a replacement for Hayward.