Why Aaron Wiggins needs a bigger role in Thunder rotation

Aaron Wiggins' defensive strengths

Defensively, Wiggins is a valuable piece for Mark Daigneault. He holds opponents to 0.71 points per possession in isolation, a mark that ranks 14th of the 187 players with at least 30 isolation possessions defended.

Whether it’s his quick feet or anticipation, he understands how to keep scorers in front of him. 

Wiggins is a quality screen navigator too – it’s difficult to shake him on or off-ball. Although he only measures in at 6-foot-5, his nearly 6-foot-10 wingspan allows him to size up and guard most forwards.

In fact, Wiggins ranks second across the entire league in Defensive Role Versatility, which measures how often a player guards different offensive roles (ex: primary ball handler, movement shooter, slasher, etc.).

Considering that it’s a switch-heavy league, his versatility elevates his impact and allows the Thunder to implement different schemes on a nightly basis. 

Overall, he’s an excellent individual perimeter defender who anticipates actions well. Wiggins’ ability to defend across numerous positions deems him a hyper-valuable piece come the playoffs, which is where opposing coaches exploit targets.

Plus, there is no lack of hustle in his game in terms of getting back on defense and diving for loose balls. He will happily do the dirty work and spare the stars.