This upcoming season will be a big one for Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins.
As the headliner of the Jimmy Butler trade, Wiggins’ abbreviated stint with the Heat a year ago was a disappointing one — marred by injury and inconsistency.
And a recent ranking reflects his underwhelming season.
According to a recently published HoopsHype ranking, Wiggins placed as the 23rd-best (of 26) small forward in the NBA heading into the 2025-26 season.
“Another Canadian swingman, former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins never quite lived up to the expectations as a first-overall pick,” HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina wrote. “But he’s still a solid starter in the NBA, in large part thanks to his pull-up scoring, his slashing ability off the ball, his explosiveness near the basket and his solid defense. Wiggins has good foot speed laterally, long arms and competes well on the less glamorous end of the floor.
“He may lack nightly consistency as a scorer – there’s even question as to how much he cares to reach his full potential (at this point, it’s never happening) – but Wiggins is so talented that he’s still developed into a championship-level starter.”
Even after a down season, Andrew Wiggins’ ranking is way too low:
Wiggins only played in 17 of the 32 possible games post-trade due to myriad injuries. In that sample, he averaged 19.0 points and 4.2 rebounds on 45.8/36.0/73.1 shooting splits.
However, outside of a two-game sample against the Houston Rockets and Charlotte Hornets — where he scored 72 combined points on 26-of-34 shooting (8-12 3PT) — the 30-year-old forward averaged just 16.7 points on 51.4 percent true shooting with Miami.
That said, when you say a ranking is too high or too low, you have to ask yourself: “Which player(s) would I rank said player below, or in this case, above?”
Let’s talk about it!
Among the names that he’s listed behind include Ben Mathurin (22), Brandon Miller (21), Luguentz Dort (19), Paul George (18) and DeAndre Hunter (17). I think there’s a legitimate case he could rank above most, if not all, of those players.
Mathurin’s a very crafty shot-maker, but his role and overall impact in Indiana’s rotation has fluctuated across the last two seasons; Miller could easily slide up this list and is the one player, of the aforementioned names, I’d probably rank above Wiggins; Dort is one of the best defenders in the NBA, so I don’t have much of a problem that he’s a top-20 forward; George’s health and impact have steeply declined, and he’s not getting any younger; Hunter broke out last season, but I need to see more consistency from him both as a scorer and defender.
New Heat wing Norman Powell clocks in as the 12th-best on this list. As much as Powell helps the Heat, I don’t think there’s an 11-spot gap between the two. Butler was dubbed the 8th-best.
A few other names that I’d rank Wiggins similarly to are Jaden McDaniels (15), Brandon Ingram (14) and Michael Porter Jr. (13). Mavericks standout rookie Cooper Flagg (20) should be higher because of his potential, but I understand why he isn’t (hasn’t played an NBA game yet).
Shuffle those however you’d like, but they’d be in a similar tier to the Heat’s two-way wing. The initial ranking doesn’t suggest that’s the case, which I respectfully disagree with.
All of that is not to say that Wiggins was good with the Heat last year. Relative to expectation, he wasn’t — in the regular season or playoffs.
But I still believe in the player and the pedigree. Andrew Wiggins is in his physical prime and now has a full offseason to adjust as the team’s secondary/tertiary creator and best multi-positional defender (not named Bam Adebayo).
What do you think about his ranking? Let us know in the comments!
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I don’t agree he is the 23rd best SF out of 26. I do think it is a big mistake to underestimate how well Wiggins will play this coming season, especially if he is healthy coming into training camp. He probably has a big chip on his shoulder about last season (especially during the playoffs). In addition, he is playing for a new contract and has every incentive to give 110% effort this year.
Note: Butler ranked #8, DeRozan #9 and Powell #12 in the same poll. It may make more sense to have Mitchell starting and have Wiggins coming in off the bench. That could open a spot on the second unit for Dru Smith, if he comes into camp healthy and playing as well or better than he did before he was injured.
Mitchell, Herro, Powell, Bam, Ware
Smith, Larsson, Wiggins, Jaquez, Jovic
Jakucionis, Rozier, Johnson, Fontecchio
That’s a nice idea, about having Davion start. I also agree, 23 is too low. Thanks to the staff at HHH and you SM for posting and giving us something to talk about in the dog days when not much is happening.
I have two juicy topics….There is talk on two fronts. One is the possibility of the Heat picking up Russell Westbrook. Now, I don’t know if I would do that because of our logjam at guard….But, there is also discussion that with Tyler’s contract extension coming up in October, that maybe a shocking trade may be on the horizon. I have advocated for this as I believe; one it would be working from an area of surplus, and two, Herro has value and could bring in a quality two way wing or the big we need more than a guard, and three, it would be better to not give him the contract he is asking for. If Ty were traded, then Westbrook could be used as a backup and mentor to our younger players, but not while we already have so many guards.
Well, its a big question, if Westbrook would even made it to NBA next year. He didnt adjust enough his game to be useful as a vet, and as character was always problematic.
About Tyler, I doubt it. The Powell trade shows trade value of shooting guards.
So, its trading him for another shooting guard or not much.
New contract will be basically Giddey, Kuminga situation. A solid player, which praise itself too high, but not worth max money.
You’re probably right. Sometimes I cross over into what I hope for as opposed to what will really happen.
As you are aware, there are differences in the contracts, in regards to Ty’s and the other two you mentioned. Kuminga is restricted. And both he and Giddey have better cases to get the raise they are looking for, in my opinion. They also appear to be asking for less than Ty. I think both players bring more value than Herro, but just slightly, again in my opinion. If both of them can’t get the deal they want, Ty’s could even be more difficult for him to get.
I’m not an expert in these salary matters, but that’s what I see, albeit at cursory glance.
Things are changed. There is only one team in the league which have cap space to swallow high salary player contract, so teams are lowballing the players, like Giddey, Kuminga, Thomas, Grimes knowing, that those four doesnt really have an option. They can accept those offers or play another year and be unrestricted free agents next year, when its not likely that there will be more money for them.
Herro will be in the exactly same situation next summer.
There is a logic how teams and players behave, the only uncertainty is how such behaviour affect the players performance. Those are good, but not elite players, playing not at their full can make them an average players.
Well thought out and written. The balance between salaries getting exorbitant and teams holding the line on some semblance of fiscal sanity is always in flux.
Thanks for your comments. What about Herro for Giddey straight up (sign and trade @$30m) plus Rozier for Vucevic?
Giddey, Powell, Wiggins, Bam, Ware or Vucevic
Mitchell, Larsson, Jaquez, Jovic, Ware or Vucevic
Smith, Jakucionis, Johnson, Fontecchio,
* Would save enough on Rozier/Vucevic trade to bring in a 15th player on veteran’s minimum contract
Definitely good for us. Giddey is a somewhat different player than Ty, would help us in some ways more. If somehow the Bulls took a flyer on Rozier it would be a miracle. But maybe it would happen because Vuc is probably seen as losing a step.
BTW, Beasley got exonerated today. That will make him desirable to some teams. Perhaps the Pistons take him back.
I think that Wiggins is going to have a much better year this year.