Wiggins provides reminder of value in Warriors’ win over Bulls

Wiggins provides reminder of value in Warriors’ win over Bulls originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Andrew Wiggins accomplished several things in the Warriors’ 140-131 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at United Center.

Back in the starting lineup for the first time in nearly a month, Wiggins proved he still can be a key player on a Warriors team that is trying to salvage what thus far has been a mostly disappointing 2023-24 NBA season. The former No. 1 overall draft pick also put to rest any doubts about whether he and Jonathan Kuminga could play well together at the same time.

Wiggins also came up big defensively in the third quarter when he matched up against Chicago guard Coby White, who finished with 25 points but scored just two in the third quarter while going up against Wiggins.

Wiggins had a solid stat line, scoring 17 points to go with eight assists, five rebounds, two steals and one block.

It was Wiggins’ most points since he tallied 22 in the Warriors’ Christmas Day loss to the Denver Nuggets.

“I thought Wiggs was great,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the win. “He played a fantastic game. He pressured Coby White to start that third quarter.”

Maybe just as importantly, Wiggins’ performance against the Bulls undoubtedly raised his potential value on the open market should the Warriors opt to move him before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline. He, along with Kuminga, have been among the players who reportedly could be dealt.

Even after beating the Bulls, the Warriors are in 12th place in the West and there’s been plenty of speculation over whether first-year general manager Mike Dunleavy will make a deal or not.

Asked about the idea of the Warriors needing to make a trade after Wednesday’s loss to the Pelicans, Stephen Curry essentially said one was needed.

“If things stay the same, that’s the definition of insanity, right?” Curry said to reporters. “Keep doing the same thing expecting a different result.”

Wiggins has…