Former Kansas star Wiggins not concerned by NBA trade talk

When training camp begins in October, No.1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins will be trying to block and deflect shots in the NBA. On Monday, he was deflecting questions about precisely where he’ll be playing.

Last week, Cleveland reportedly reached an agreement in principle to send Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick to Minnesota for All-Star forward Kevin Love, who will join LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to form a new “Big 3” with the Cavaliers.

That deal cannot be officially completed until Aug. 23, when Wiggins becomes eligible to be traded.

It would leave Wiggins, a rookie swingman out of Kansas, playing for a rebuilding squad in the Western Conference, rather than alongside LeBron on a presumed title contender in Cleveland.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the reported deal was agreed to, Wiggins refused to be drawn in to any trade talk.

“Whatever happens is out of my control,” he said. “I’m not worrying about it right now.”

Surrounded by more than a dozen reporters and nine television cameras at a promotional event at his former grade school in suburban Toronto, Wiggins acknowledged that life as a first overall pick has brought him extra attention.

“There’s more eyes on me, more criticizing, stuff like that,” he said.

So far, at least, the glare of the spotlight hasn’t been too hard to handle.

“Going to Kansas University kind of prepares you for moments like this,” he said, “because at Kansas they treat the basketball players like rock stars.”

Kansas coach Bill Self said Sunday that Wiggins told him he’d welcome the trade to Minnesota, where he could be the face of the franchise, rather than playing in the shadow of LeBron.

Wiggins wouldn’t bite when asked Monday for a response to Self’s comments.

“Anywhere, any team,” he said. “I can play anywhere.”

This story was originally published August 11, 2014 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Former Kansas star Wiggins not concerned by NBA trade talk."