Does wigginton injury keep him here an extra year?

[moores2]

I think this injury makes his decision much easier. (Leave for the NBA) Playing professional sports is so unpredictable. Make your money while you can, because you never know when the injury bug is going to bite.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

The converse is the injury could scare him and make him want to get to the pros as fast as possible. Based on how he went through the draft process last year, I think he's planning to leave this year.

 

[Catclone]

If Wigginton is here for 1 or 2 more years, I don't see this board liking the results of those seasons anyway.

In other words, if Wigginton leaves, that's probably a good indication the team is having good success.

 

[CYdTracked]

First this thread need to tap the breaks on trying to predict in November on Wigginton's draft stock. A lot can happen over the next 7 months, injury and overall team dynamic and the results of the season. That was always the case and will be for all the players. (Granted that isn't what message boards are for but still.)

For this point, I think this having additional options will actually help Lindell's stock. Last year he was forced to be the leading scorer every game and was the primary focus of the defense. Credit to him he proved he could produce in that situation thus getting the attention from the NBA. During the evaluation scouts questioned if Lindell's handle and running an offense as a PG (his best position as a pro) to get into the first round. Having other players that can finish off possible assists, help space the floor and overall demand the defense attention will give LW the opportunity to show those skills. If he can get a jump in his assists and lower his turnovers his stock will rise, and he can do that and score more efficiently to get ~16+ pts per game like last year.

You make some great points. I'm not trying to predict his stock but the injury no matter how he comes back from it going to be a setback but we don't know how much of one yet. You point out like I did his future in the NBA is going to be as a PG but with Babb running PG he's going to have to change his game a bit this year with the additional scorers and find a way to show he's improved with his ability to see the floor and handle the ball while also being more efficient shooting too. It's way too early to tell how this will play out and how healthy he will be too.

I'm not a pro scout but you do wonder if it would be in his best interests to return next season and be the primary PG once Babb is gone if he isn't projected to go 1st round. There is a big difference between being drafted in the 1st and 2nd rounds in the NBA, 1st round is a guaranteed contract and 2nd round you're fighting to make the roster. Plus anymore a lot of teams are using their 2nd round picks to draft international guys or draft guys they know won't make their NBA roster and hope they can stash them overseas or in the G League for a bit to develop them.

 

[Beyerball]

LW can play the 2 in NBA... he’s athletic enough at his height and he’d defend pgs I’m the league prob..there are 6’3 SG in the NBA...

If he wants to go 1st rd then he needs to heal up and come back and have a great year..

He’s not a top 10 pick, he shuts it down he might not get drafted

 

[jbindm]

Somebody brought up Kyrie --

Does this injury cause Wigginton to just shut it down and worry about the next level?

I can see the logic in that from his standpoint in avoiding further injury. Then again, Wigginton was never the presumed first overall pick like Irving was, so he probably has to play himself into the First Round against the Big 12 this season.

...Right?

I do not think that would happen. If he and Lard come back 100% with what we already have, this is going to be a very good basketball team in 2019.

I don't think his stock is high enough where he can afford to sit out to protect his future. This is a little like the Kyrie Irving situation but the key difference is that Irving was a projected top five pick before he ever set foot on campus. LW is a prospect who could play his way into the first round. Once he's healthy, he'll be back out there.

 

[ForeverIowan]

This is our year to make some serious noise. We need to capitalize with top two/three finish in conference and a deep run in March and more high level recruits will follow.

 

[Cy$]

Think Kyrie Irving. What did he play for Duke...5 games? If Lindell recovers to any degree, he's probably gone.

No offense to Lindell, but he wasn’t on the same tier of a prospect as kyrie.

He doesn’t have the leverage of doing that. He’s borderline 1st round. He needs to prove that he can play PG at the next level. If he doesn’t show it in college, what are the odds it happens with a step up in competition?

 

[Dingus]

If ends up out basically the whole year, I bet there’s a 25% chance he comes back. Other than that I bet he goes even if he’s still projected 2nd rd.

 

[Jer]

Unrelated to the injury, I think he's gone after this year.

With that said, I personally think he's at best a mid-to-late 2nd round guy just based on his fit in the current NBA trend. 5 years ago he would have been a lock for late 1st round. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's like some of the guys the past few years that are projected late 1st round/early 2nd rounders and end up not getting drafted at all.

He has a great mix of skill, talent, and athleticism, but I just think many teams now view the 2nd round as their best bet to take a gamble on foreign talent or extremely raw talent of the right size/placement. Fewer teams seem to take a chance on tweeners that they know will always be available as free agents down the road.

 

[CycloneErik]

I think he wants to go no matter what and will be gone no matter what.

I'm not sure his pro stock is as high as everyone thinks - he's not a great true PG and that's the only position he can play in the NBA IMO.

Agreed, and it's no insult to him. There just aren't many guys who are going to make it in the NBA. He's built to be an excellent college player and have a chance at the next level, but probably not a great chance with his position problem.

 

[madguy30]

If he goes more power to him but I'll stand by that he should only be playing PG at ISU if it's better for the success of Iowa State this season.

 

[madguy30]

I think this injury makes his decision much easier. (Leave for the NBA) Playing professional sports is so unpredictable. Make your money while you can, because you never know when the injury bug is going to bite.

Same reason I have no problem whatsoever with someone like David Montgomery leaving early.

 

[Cynonymous]

I hope he makes the NBA as soon as possible. Seems like a good kid - not going to fault anyone for leaving early and getting life-changing $$$.

The thing that often gets ignored is that you have a small window to make a roster in the NBA ( ~ 3 years). That clock starts as soon as you get drafted. Yes, you can get some money early, but compared to players that make rotation and get a 2nd contract, it's pennies. I think Wigginton has the potential to get there, but his game is nowhere near rounded enough just yet. Now, if his goal is just to make money anywhere, then yes, going earlier is better.