The Atlanta Hawks made one of the most underrated moves of the offseason when they traded for Oklahoma City's Aaron Wiggins.
Through 11 games with his new squad, Wiggins is averaging a career-high 14.9 points per game, along with 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He's also shooting over 40% from deep, fitting right into the high-volume outside attack Atlanta's trying to implement.
This level of second-unit dominance - particularly on the offensive end - hasn't been there his whole career. He's developed gradually into the player he is today, making learning curves in a higher role inevitable. He isn't always perfect at the start of games. It's how he finishes, though, that separates Wiggins from his peers.
Wiggins started slowly against Brooklyn, but turned it into an epic night
Of course.
Why would Wiggins - Atlanta's most reliable bench option through a telling sample size of the season - suddenly be unable to make a shot? Especially against a team like the Nets?
Everyone is due for an off night, so his will come, but it ended up not being against Brooklyn. Although he entered the final frame shooting just 3-13 on the night, He finished with 20 points, four rebounds and six assists.
In the fourth quarter alone, he had 12 points, three rebounds and an assist. He shot 4-6 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the arc. Atlanta, once down 17 points, came back and secured their fourth-consecutive victory. They couldn't have done it without the strong late effort from Wiggins.
If anyone knows how much confidence a franchise, its fans and staff should have in Wiggins turning it around - whether on an off-night or in the midst of a disappointing stretch - it's those with his former destination.
In Oklahoma City, the 27-year-old forward wasn't perfect, but their faith in him allowed him to grow into a key contributor on a championship-winning squad.
Atlanta must continue having patience - Wiggins is making it really easy
In this new era, while some fans have grown impatient with the slow development of the young squad, the staff hasn't.
Success in the NBA is a marathon, not a sprint. Overcorrecting to an early postseason exit can be detrimental. Making a small, yet impactful early-summer move like bringing in Wiggins, though, can be just enough for a team to get over the hump.
A project himself, Wiggins was expected to fit right in with the franchise's trajectory.
Through 11 games, he most certainly has.
Add us as a preferred source on Google