Andrew Wiggins will get his money, but there are a few string attached.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is ready to pony up and give Wiggins a max deal to stay with Minnesota long term, so long as he is willing to have a one-on-one meeting with his boss and commit to becoming a better player.
Taylor’s offer to Wiggins would be in the range of five years and $148 million, ESPN reports.
“To me, by making this offer, I’m speculating that his contribution to the team will be more in the future. We’ve got to be better. He can’t be paid just for what he’s doing today. He’s got to be better,” Taylor told the Associated Press about Wiggins.
“So when you’re talking about negotiations on his part, I’m already extending to him that I’m willing to meet the max. But there are some things that I need out of him, and that is the commitment to be a better player than you are today.”
Wiggins, 22, was the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Cavaliers in 2014, but never played a game for Cleveland and was traded to Minnesota along with former Cavs top pick Anthony Bennett for All-Star forward Kevin Love.
Last season, Wiggins averaged a career-high 23.6 points on 45.2 percent shooting with four rebounds, 2.3 assists and a steal. The forward has career averages of 20.4 points, 4.1 boards and 2.1 assists in three seasons.
Minnesota is well-positioned to make a playoff run after the addition of All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler in an offseason trade with the Chicago Bulls to pair with Wiggins and young star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Timberwolves also added veterans Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson in free agency in hopes of improving on their 31-51 record last season.
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