[HitsterParticipant]

 Looking back on 2014 draft as regards Dante Exum forum topic. I noticed that over the last couple of years – Andrew Wiggins had very similar output to Jimmy Butler.

2015/16 – Wiggins 20.7ppg Butler 20.9ppg

2016/17 – Wiggins 23.7ppg Butler 23.9ppg

Just as a fan topic, I wondered which player you’d rather have on your team going forward with their current salaries. Butler has two years plus a player option left on his deal. Wiggins has a year left on his rookie deal and will likely get renewed this summer.

Logically you’d think that the choice would be 22 year old Wiggins over Butler who turns 28 this year. But Butler is an established All Star and an All defensive 2nd teamer so he brings a lot to the table. Plus careerwise Butler is a young 27/28 only having been in the NBA 3 seasons longer than Wiggins and with not a lot of miles on the clock compared to others his age.

One guy still has upside, the other may be nearing their peak so who do you take.

I’m a big fan of Butler’s but if I had to choose I’d take Wiggins as the younger guy on potential even though Butler is the better player now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sewok15Participant]

 Wiggins seems to do little other than score at this point despite his superior athleticism. I would probably take Butler because he seems like a player you can win with. Not as your best player but he would be an awesome #2 guy on a contender. 

It wouldnt make sense for a team like Minnesota to make a trade like that since they are years away from contention and have to bank on the potential of Wiggins. It really all depends on the situation because Butler is better now but Wiggins has a decent chance to end up being slightly better. 

 

[DolanCareParticipant]

 It’s not really a contest in my opinion. Jimmy Butler is a top 10 player in the league. That may sound crazy, but if you begin to tally up the best players, Butler is definitley in the 8-11 range.

I’m not sure if Wiggins can reach that plateau, he has the talent, it’s just hard to put those expectations on a player. Obviously he’s young so his ceiling has yet to be reached. That said, his lack of defensive intensity leds me to believe that he’ll won’t be the two way threat that Butler is. Elite defenders usually show a committment to defense early on. 

[whateverParticipant]

I think it’s really unfair when you compare 2 players based solely on points scored. Is true that they’ve scored the ball similarly this year:

Butler: 23.9pts, 47%fg, 37%3Fg

Wiggins: 23.6pts, 45%fg, 36% 3Fg

However that’s about the only stat they had a similar output:

Butler: 6.2 rebs, 5.5 assists, 1.9 stls, 25.2 PER

Wiggins: 4 rebs, 2.3 assists, 1 stls, 16.6 PER

This while Butler lead a team to the playoffs on a 41-41 record and Wiggins was the second option on a 31-51 team. This numbers plus Butler superior defense is enough to say Jimmy is superior by far at this point. I know Wiggins is very young and hasn’t reached his prime yet, however at this point you can’t compare These 2 players without speculating about Wiggins fulfilling the potential many see in him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[theballerwayParticipant]

 Butler averaged 13/4.9/2.6 in 38 mins in his 3rd season also after a 4 yr college career. 

So based on Wiggins year 3 stats in comparison im going with Wiggins. Its worth noting that Butler made his biggest statistical jump in his 4th season- 20/5.8/3.3

 

 

 

[JDB12Participant]

Being a Wolves fan, to me, Wiggins is just another Kevin Martin. He just scores differently than Martin did. Only now it’s way more frustrating because Wiggins has so many more tools and skills and if he applied those with more effort, he could be more than just a scorer. I would take Butler because I think he has more of that killer instinct and plays with a greater sense of urgency. That’s why the Bulls win, and right now the Wolves big three just rely on their talent.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Thanks for all the feedback guys, interesting to see further breakdown than around the scoring and comparing them at a similar age.

The suggestion that Butler is a potential top 10 player in the league was something that may not seem obvious to a lot of us. But when you weigh up he was in top 15 for scoring this year plus his excellent defensive play and stats across the over columns, it is something for us to seriously think about.

Also I asked the question as the two guys had similar scoring but were polar opposites – one a top drafted freshmen out of college who was tabbed to be a superstar several years earlier and the other a 30th pick who had to work hard to break into Chicago’s rotation, then starting line up before becoming their key player

  

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

To expect Andrew Wiggins to one day be a better player than Butler is asking alot. Jimmy Butler is a great all around player and doesnt get enough credit for being unselfish and trying to get his teammates involved. Does Wiggins have the upside to be better? I think so. But Butler is still developing as well and is clearly the better player at this point. I would take Butler and I dont even think they are in the same class right now. Butler is a top 15 player. Wiggins top 30-40.

 

[MatosParticipant]

 Yea I don’t think its even close. Butler is by far the superior player here. Aside from the fact that Butler is beating him by a wide margin in the other statistics outside of points, its not always about the stats. Butler has that gear that Wiggins doesn’t have. Swap players on their respective teams and I’m inclined to say the T’Wolves could make the playoffs.

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