Wiggins Must Stop Being an Afterthought

By the Heat Nightly Desk · Friday, September 18

Andrew Wiggins posted 15.4 points on 41.4 percent shooting from three last season, useful numbers that mask a 19.4 percent usage rate. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo drawing the defense, Miami needs Wiggins to punish the openings, not just stand in them.

Andrew Wiggins of the Heat — Andrew Wiggins. Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The assignment

All U Can Heat argued this week that Miami needs Wiggins to fill the Khris Middleton role next to Giannis, the connective forward who scores when the ball finds him and defends up a position. That is a real job description, not a compliment. Wiggins has the tools for it. Whether he takes it is the question camp needs to answer.

Last year's line

Wiggins played 68 games at 30.3 minutes, averaging 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He shot 47.5 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from deep on 4.9 attempts a night, with 78.4 percent at the line. Efficient volume from the perimeter, modest everywhere else.

What the numbers hide

A 58.6 percent true shooting figure and a 19.4 percent usage rate tell the real story: Wiggins scored efficiently because he rarely had to create. His defensive rating sat at 113.9, his net rating at negative 0.1. Neither number belongs to a $30 million starter next to two All-Stars who need help drawing extra defenders.

The money

Wiggins holds a $30.2 million player option for this season, with $16.3 million and $17.7 million already on the books for the two years after. That contract assumes a starter's workload, not a complementary one. Miami is paying for more shots taken, not just shots made.

Bottom line

Wiggins is not on the injury report, which means there is no excuse once camp opens. He needs to be the forward who punishes a scrambling defense with Giannis and Bam commanding it, not the one standing in the corner waiting for a kickout. Efficient is not enough this season.

What is Andrew Wiggins' role on the 2026-27 Heat?

He is projected as the forward who complements Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, similar to the connective role Khris Middleton played in Milwaukee. His usage last season, 19.4 percent, was too low for that job.

Is Andrew Wiggins injured?

No. Wiggins is not on the Heat's injury report heading into camp.