When it was announced that the Miami Heat had tacked on a contract extension to Andrew Wiggins' current contract, after he opted into the final year of his deal, many fans were left perplexed. After the big move for Giannis Antetokounmpo, it didn't make a ton of sense.
With all the attention on trying to build out the best supporting cast around Giannis right now, this polarizing move, which didn't give the Heat any immediate cap flexibility, was naturally called into question.
However, after the moves that the Heat were able to pull off this summer (even despite the strict financial limitations, at least in part due to the Wiggins extension), and the proper context of how much financial wiggle room this Wiggins contract will give them as soon as next season, it starts to make much more sense why Miami made such a move.
Adding to all that, Wiggins' showing in preseason just makes the move look even better. Even though it's just preseason and it was only one half, it does seem like the versatile wing is picking up where he left off last season.
Andrew Wiggins is picking up where he left off last season
If this is a trend that continues, not only will the Heat look like geniuses for the contract extension, which could become one of the best bargain contracts a year from now, but the decision to double down on Wiggins as a critical third option next to Giannis and Bam Adebayo could also look sharp.
During his preseason debut with the Heat, Wiggins finished with 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range. He also added one rebound and one steal. After a career year from 3-point range last season, Wiggins has gotten off to a great start.
Wiggins shot a career-high 41 percent from 3-point range last year. Heading into this season, even after the Heat's acquisition of Giannis, there were questions about whether Wiggins could be that player again. There were many doubts that he could.
However, at least to start off, it does seem as if, just maybe, Wiggins can have a similar type of season. The attention and defensive gravity that Giannis naturally draws should certainly help, and that's exactly what we saw in the Heat's preseason debut.
Wiggins is certainly going to have the opportunities to have a huge impact on this Heat team. And if he does have as efficient of a season as he did a year ago, there's no question he could help raise the ceiling for an already talented core.
Wiggins is certainly off to a start that is going to prove the Heat right. At least through one preseason game, it's hard to argue with any of the Heat's moves this offseason, including the polarizing decision to lock up Wiggins in a very unconventional way.
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