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Aaron Wiggins is best known as the man who saved basketball, and he might need to save his team in the second round.
After finishing 68-14 in the regular season and sweeping their first-round series, the Oklahoma City Thunder are getting ready for Monday, when they tip off the second round. While the Thunder are still awaiting the result of Saturday night’s Game 7 between the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers to find out their opponent, they will enter the series as a heavy favorite.
The Thunder’s success and championship contender status are typically attributed to the star power of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren and the immense depth down the roster.
While Wiggins is typically a bench player and fits in as part of Oklahoma City’s depth, he bridges the gap between star power and the bench. This season, Wiggins finished as the Thunder’s fourth-leading scorer behind the big three.
At 12 points per game, Wiggins took a significant leap this season despite playing only 22.9 minutes per game, good for seventh on the team. In the first round, Wiggins also finished fourth on the team in scoring, but his placement wasn’t indicative of how well he played throughout.
Wiggins averaged 9.5 points against the Grizzlies, but he scored 21 in the team’s 51-point opening win and only 17 in the final three games. While his nine-point outing in Game 4 was important for the Thunder, they would love to see more consistency from him moving forward.
Against the Nuggets, Wiggins could prove massive in winning the bench battle against a shallow Denver team. Meanwhile, he could play a big role as another reliable scoring option against a stout Clippers defense if they were to move on.
In any case, the Thunder would love to see some big games from Wiggins in the second round. He doesn’t necessarily need to finish in double figures every night, but if he can have more 15-point games than single-digit games, he could be the key to the Thunder blowing the series open.
With so much star power and the league’s best defense already, Wiggins’ impact could be backbreaking for any team the Thunder face moving forward.
More must-reads:
- NBA names Kyle Filipowski Summer League MVP, announces All-SL teams
- Veteran guard reportedly 'a name to monitor' for Lakers
- The 'NBA all-time 50-point game leaders' quiz
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Marcus Smart signing could spell disaster for LeBron James, Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers brought in some toughness and defensive versatility with the addition of Marcus Smart. However, they're now going to have to play financial Jenga. As reported by Bryan Toporek of Silver Screen and Roll, they won't have a lot of money to make any more moves. "After waiving (Shake) Milton and (Jordan) Goodwin and signing Smart, the Lakers now sit $1.1 million below the first apron. Since they’re hard-capped, they cannot cross the first apron under any circumstance between now and June 30, 2026," Toporek wrote. As a result, the Lakers' best hope for help will come once the buyout market starts to take shape. "Since they’re only $1.1 million under the first apron, they currently don’t have enough room below the hard cap to sign anyone to even a veteran-minimum contract. They’d have to shed salary in a trade before they can make another free-agent signing," he added. That's not necessarily what LeBron James might want to hear. His agent, Rich Paul, claimed that he wanted to pursue another championship and that they would assess the team's roster to determine his future. This team got marginally better, but it still needs to add a defensive-minded big man, since JJ Redick didn't seem to trust Jaxson Hayes in the playoffs last season. The Western Conference is as stacked as it's ever been, and it will take more than what the Lakers have to keep up with other powerhouses. So, unless Rob Pelinka works his magic with another shocking trade, James will have to weigh all of his options.
Could this young forward answer multiple questions for the Rangers?
Through much of his time with the New York Rangers, Mika Zibanejad has been too good to be a second-line center, yet not quite a top liner for a contender. Now aging out of his prime, his play has dropped off the past two seasons, only rebounding when moved to the wing next to midseason acquisition J.T. Miller. That presents a problem for New York. The Rangers are not deep down the middle. Moving Zibanejad back to center provides that depth, putting Vincent Trochek back in his appropriate 3C role. But does Zibanejad again suffer without Miller? It also leaves the Blueshirts thin on the right side. Zibanejad can’t play two positions at once and the Rangers cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. There is a solution, however: Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. Anaheim and New York already have strong front office ties, with a pair of trades in the past eight months. The cross-continental line should be open. McTavish is precisely the player archetype that Rangers general manager Chris Drury has sought in this past year. The 22-year-old possesses good size (6-foot-1, 219 pounds) and plays with a grit that Drury adores. An old-fashioned power forward in the making, McTavish hunts bodies, making life miserable for defenders on the forecheck and finds pockets of space when off the puck, where he unloads a cannon of a shot. An all-situations player, McTavish digs in the corners and is developing nicely as an offensive driver. McTavish is a hard worker who shows leadership traits. New Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan loves to play with speed and relentless pressure, a mantra that suits McTavish down to the ground. For a second-line center, McTavish’s numbers don’t exactly pop off the page, but 52 points (22 goals) in 76 games for a bad Ducks team is nothing to sneeze at. In New York, he would also presumably get to play with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Given the playmaking ability of those wingers and McTavish’s heavy shot, 30-plus goals could be on the cards. Bleacher Report has stated that the Ducks are unlikely to extend McTavish an offer sheet, instead willing to match whatever offer comes his way. Does that mean he is on the trade block? At the very least it means that Anaheim will likely be willing to listen to offers. That said, it would take an almighty package to pry the former No. 3 pick out of Orange County. The Ducks would rightly command a first-round pick — if not two — and a highly-rated prospect. New York has its own first-rounders in store, as well as a, likely, late first-rounder next year, with second-round picks each year except 2027. Would New York part with a first, a second and a pair of its top prospects? The Rangers are loaded with left wing prospects. Whilst Gabe Perrault is likely off the table, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora and Brett Berard should be discussed, as should defenseman E.J. Emery. Would picks and a pair of prospects be enough for Anaheim, though? Here’s a thought experiment: a deal centered around Will Cuylle. As mentioned, the Rangers have a raft of left wingers coming through and Lafreniere is also a natural left winger. Would trading Cuylle for McTavish solve the Rangers' issues at the pivot, allowing Zibanejad to help fix the right-hand side and give the team room to develop more youngsters on the left? Could this solve three issues in one swoop? It would be a, potentially, seismic move, but it might just make sense for both teams, especially if the Ducks are not looking to keep McTavish around long-term. It would complete a remarkable offseason for Drury.
Fans React to Potential 8-Year Deal for $50M Oilers Defenseman
As the Edmonton Oilers map out their long-term roster under GM Stan Bowman, a critical decision looms on the blue line: Should they sign defenseman Jake Walman to an eight-year extension? Walman, acquired earlier this offseason, is coming off a strong campaign and is currently playing on a $3.4 million deal. With free agency already a few weeks in, the defenseman eligible for a new deal, and his stock rising, now may be the Oilers’ best—and most cost-effective—window to lock him in before the bidding war begins. In a recent Oilers Nation piece, Tyler Yaremchuk highlighted the logic behind acting now. Because Edmonton holds his rights, they’re the only team that can offer Walman an eight-year deal under the current CBA. If everyone waits until the end of the season to sign an extension, a new CBA kicks in, maxing out his extension at seven years with the Oilers and six years with another team. That extra term could be key in securing a discount on average annual value. A deal in the $6-8 million range, perhaps eight years at $56 million, would give Walman financial security into his late 30s—especially appealing given his career earnings total around $12 million to date. From the Oilers’ perspective, it could be a shrewd move to secure a top-four defender at below-market value. The question about committing to an eight-year term is a valid one, however. Reaction to the Idea of a Long-Term Deal for Walman So what do fans think? Reactions to the idea have been mixed, though many see the upside. “Yup, would love for the Oilers to lock him up long-term,” one fan wrote, clearly seeing Walman as a stabilizing force on the left side of the defense. Another agreed: “This makes sense. He is probably our top 4 LD for the foreseeable future.” Others, however, voiced concern about term and age. “I’d be leary signing a 30-year D for 8 years @ $6M per year,” one commenter warned. “Yeah, other teams might be willing to do it but it still doesn’t make it a good deal. I like Walman, but in 5 years, this contract could look like an albatross.” That push and pull—between locking in a valuable piece now or risking future regret—is one Bowman and the Oilers must weigh carefully. If Walman continues to perform at a top-four level and the salary cap keeps climbing as expected, a $6 million extension could quickly look like a bargain. This, even if Walman isn’t effective for all eight seasons. But if his play declines into his early-30s, the back half of that deal could make the Oilers regret taking the gamble.
Cubs Reportedly Keeping Nationals All-Star 'On Their Radar' at Trade Deadline
The Chicago Cubs are expected to be extremely aggressive when it comes to fixing their weaknesses at the trade deadline which is now just over a week away. As the deadline has snuck up, the two clear needs the Cubs are expected to try to add are starting pitching and third base. A bullpen that was seen early on as a huge issue has all of the sudden been one of the better units in baseball over the last few months, and this has become much less of a priority. More News: Cubs Unthinkably Find Themselves in Second-Place of NL Central That has not stopped Chicago from poking around at potential ways to shore things up in the group of relievers, and apparently there's one name they have circled. According to an article from both Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (subscription required), the Cubs are checking in on Washington Nationals All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan. "Kyle Finnegan does not produce the strikeout rates that light up the projection models, but the Cubs have the Washington Nationals closer on their radar as they explore ways to bulk up their bullpen," Mooney and Sharma wrote. More News: Cubs Have Clear-Cut Strategy To Execute Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline The insiders went on to clarify that Chicago is extremely confident in Daniel Palencia since his emergence and not exactly looking for a closer. However, Finnegan gives Craig Counsell another tool in the toolbox in order to help “prioritize matchups, rest, and recovery” for their bullpen. Finnegan has not been quite as strong this year in the follow-up to the first All-Star appearance of his career last year on a one-year deal, but the Cubs do not need him to be a dominant shutdown closer. It looks like they already have one of those in Palencia. Transitioning to a setup role though and simply giving Counsell another chess piece could prove to be immensely valuable if the price in any potential trade is right. More News: Cubs Boss Reveals Long-Term Positional Plan For Struggling Rookie Matt Shaw Washington has every reason in the world to want to deal Finnegan and the remainder of his $6 million salary this season, so there's not much reason for them to play hardball here. The 33-year-old currently has a 4.62 ERA and 1.324 WHIP, even further lowering his trade value from last year's version of Finnegan who posted a 3.68 ERA and 38 saves. Finnegan will have other suitors, but if Chicago feels he can help put this bullpen over the top, putting together a package built on some lower level prospects is absolutely worth a shot here. For more Cubs news, head over to Cubs On SI.
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