Dub Hub: Steve Kerr expects a ‘big year’ from Andrew Wiggins this season

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Friday, September 27th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expects a big year from Andrew Wiggins this upcoming season.
• Former Warriors two-way player Daeqwon Plowden agrees to a deal with the Hawks, according to Hoops Hype.
• 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose announces his retirement after 15 seasons, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

With the Golden State Warriors set to begin training camp next week, head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. addressed the media on Thursday to preview the upcoming season. One key topic was Andrew Wiggins, who they say is entering camp looking fit and motivated to get back to the version of himself that helped the Warriors win a championship in 2022.

“He’s at the age where he’s right in his physical prime, and we’ve seen him do it,” Kerr said. “He helped us win a championship. I’m expecting a big year from Wiggs.”

Wiggins is expected to take on a larger role on the team following Klay Thompson’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks. Kerr emphasized that Wiggins would be especially critical in helping fill the offensive void left by Thompson, hoping that the former All-Star will bounce back back after a down season last year where he averaged just 13.2 points per game.

“I think there’s also a void that is left by Klay’s absence that we need to fill,” Kerr acknowledged. “That’s a lot of points to score, but it also means we have to rethink how we’re doing things, and Wiggs will be featured for sure. He’s a guy who’s proven he’s a 20-point-a-night guy, and we’re going to be relying on him heavily.”

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, September 27th:

Warriors News

Steve Kerr on Andrew Wiggins: “We’re going to be relying on him heavily”

Mike Dunleavy Jr. wants the Warriors to be a top defensive team next season

Steve Kerr, Mike Dunleavy on 2024-25 Warriors season: ‘I think we’ve been forgotten about’ | The Athletic

“We’re probably as impatient a franchise as you can be right now given our time horizon and all that,” Dunleavy said. “But there’s a fine line between impatience and undisciplined. I feel good about the discipline that we held this summer and the roster we built and the growth from within that we’re going to have. I know everybody is always looking for big headline breaking news and all that, but I really like this team.”

Dunleavy then said more forcefully later: “There’s no point in going all in to be slightly above average.”

Former Warriors two-way player Daeqwon Plowden agrees to a deal with the Hawks, according to Hoops Hype

A 3-Team Trade Idea That Lands Brandon Ingram with Warriors, Wiggins with Blazers | Bleacher Report

Golden State Warriors Receive: Brandon Ingram ($36 million), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl ($2.2 million)

New Orleans Pelicans: Deandre Ayton ($34 million), Moses Moody ($5.8 million), Golden State’s 2025 first-rounder (top-eight protection)

Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Andrew Wiggins ($26.3 million), Gary Payton II ($9.1 million)

NBA News:

Ranking the NBA’s No. 2 options: Lakers, Celtics boast the league’s best co-stars | Yahoo Sports

15. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans; 16. James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers; 17. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic; 18. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets; 19. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers; 20. Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets; 21. Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers; 22. Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors; 23. Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs; 24. R.J. Barrett, Toronto Raptors; 25. Bogdan Bogdanović, Atlanta Hawks; 26. Nikola Vučević, Chicago Bulls; 27. Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons; 28. Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz; 29. Dennis Schröder, Brooklyn Nets; 30. Jordan Poole, Washington Wizards.

The NBA Clarity Index | The Ringer

Nets fans might not be thrilled about yet another rebuild and the prospect of a 60-loss season. But they can take comfort in seeing a definable plan. That’s not the case for at least a dozen franchises in any given year.

The NBA’s most precious commodity is, of course, talent—especially elite talent. But maybe the most important commodity is one entirely within a team’s control: conviction.

As one longtime team executive notes: “Too many people in this league are scared for their job and don’t do what’s right.” Too many general managers, in other words, are more concerned with placating fans or the team owner (and/or avoiding criticism) than pursuing a consistent vision. Conviction matters. Clarity matters.

Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose announces his retirement after 15 seasons, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

76ers agree to two-way deal with former Warriors guard Lester Quiñones

Despite Klay Thompson and Chris Paul’s departures this offseason, the emergence of Brandin Podziemski alongside the acquisitions of De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield gave the Warriors front office enough confidence in their backcourt depth to prioritize other positions with the rest of their roster. While they could have brought Quiñones back on a two-way deal, they opted to prioritize Pat Spencer instead.

Three tweets to end the week:

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.