By JOSH NEWMAN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK – As it becomes increasingly likely that Jabari Parker will be selected No. 2 overall at the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, that would leave Andrew Wiggins for the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 pick.
If that does happen and newly-minted free agent LeBron James somehow ends up going back to the Cavaliers next month, that potential pairing is something Wiggins would obviously be interested in.
“I could play there forever, I think that would be a good combination obviously,” Wiggins said at NBA Draft media day on Wednesday afternoon in midtown. “He’s arguably the best player in the NBA right now.”
However remote a LeBron-Wiggins combination may seem, the possibility is dangling out there until James says otherwise.
James’ agent, Rich Paul, informed the Heat that his client will opt out of the final two years of his contract to test free agency. He can now re-sign with the Heat for five years and $130 million, or go elsewhere for four years and $96 million. Several teams, including the Cavaliers, are expected to make a run at James once free agency negotiating opens on July 1.
While a union with James may never come to be, Wiggins is set to reunite with fellow-Canadians Anthony Bennett and Tristan Thompson. Bennett went No. 1 overall to the Cavs last June, while Thompson has morphed into a double-double threat since going fourth overall to the Cavs in 2011.
Wiggins would certainly welcome playing with his countrymen, as all three are expected to be part of the future of a rising Canadian national team program.
“We’re all boys, you know?” Wiggins said of Bennett, as well as Canadian draft prospects Nik Stauskas and Tyler Ennis. “We’ve known each other for a few years now. I’ve played with him and against him for a long time now, so the chemistry is already really good.”
Wiggins, Ennis and Stauskas are all expected to be selected inside the first 20 picks on Thursday at Barclays Center.
**For previous articles on Andrew Wiggins, click here.
