(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The 2024 Olympics are just a month away and some of the biggest basketball players in the world will be participating in the games.
But one player who will not be involved is Andrew Wiggins, currently of the Golden State Warriors.
According to Doug Smith, per NBACentral, the Warriors are playing “hardball” with Wiggins and will prevent him from playing for the Canadian national team in the Olympics this summer.
What is the cause of this decision, especially since fellow Warriors star Stephen Curry is suiting up for the American team?
The Golden State Warriors are playing ‘hardball’ with Andrew Wiggins, which will prevent him from playing for the Canadian national team in the Olympics this summer, per @SmithRaps
The Warriors are looking to trade Wiggins pic.twitter.com/843tTcHKTQ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 28, 2024
Is this the Warriors’ attempt to prevent the Canadian team from playing well?
That’s unlikely.
Instead, they probably made this choice to retain Wiggins’ trade value before next season.
Wiggins is one of several players who could be sent away from the Warriors this summer and playing in the Olympics could jeopardize that.
If he is injured or plays poorly, fewer teams will want to make deals to sign him.
But if he remains off the court, the Warriors could probably get a decent return for him.
Therefore, this is likely just a tactic to give them a better shot at a hearty trade they are happy with.
The team swears this is a mutual decision that Wiggins is on board with but the Canadian basketball general manager says that isn’t the case.
Wiggins played for Canada in an Olympic qualifying tournament back in 2021 but he won’t be with them when they head to Paris next month.
That is a tough blow for the Canadian team but perhaps good news for the Warriors’ future.
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