Should the Warriors bench Wiggins in wake of his slump?

The game was coming down to the wire versus the Spurs on March 20. Warriors' forward Andrew Wiggins was at the line –– where he struggled mightily since the All-Star break and throughout his career.

Wiggins is shooting a bleak 45% from the line (13-for-29) post All-Star break.

Wiggins went one-for-two, and in the scramble for the loose ball, Warriors' center Kevon Looney was called for a rebounding foul, sending Spurs forward Jakob Poeltl to the line. However, Poeltl missed the second free-throw, and Wiggins missed a critical box-out, which led to the game-winning tip-in by Spurs forward Keldon Johnson.

It's strange to see such a quick drop-off in production and effort. Wiggins has been one of the main reasons the Warriors have been so successful in the early parts of the season.

Without guard Klay Thompson, Wiggins was tasked to stop the NBA's best wing players and was no slouch. His presence on the defensive end and his consistent 20 points per game garnered him the nickname of Two-Way Wiggs.

Warriors' fans pushed for his All-Star selection, claiming that while Wiggins continues to be a critical piece in their championship pursuit. Somehow, Wiggins was selected as a starter –– primarily due to the efforts of the Korean pop star "BamBam."

While Wiggins's development in his role with the Warriors helped the squad –– and there's no doubt Wiggins deserved to be an All-Star reserve this season –– Wiggins has been unrecognizable post-All-Star break.

Wiggins has a habit of being content with his development –– never really looking to improve his strengths or weaknesses. As a result, he can put up ridiculous scoring numbers but seems fulfilled with averaging 20 points a game.

So, who should Head Coach Steve Kerr turn to with Wiggins not playing to the Warriors' standard?

One possible solution is rookie Jonathan Kuminga.

Kuminga has been one of this season's best storylines –– a rookie getting a prominent role in a championship-hunting team. While Wiggins is known for his silent demeanor, which translates to his play on the court, Kuminga brings energy and effort with his athleticism.

Since the break, Kuminga has averaged 13.4 points and five rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point range in March.

In the March 22 game versus the Magic, the Warriors struggled to find any offensive rhythm going. Still, with Kuminga in consistent attack mode, the Warriors' were able to climb back into the game.

In many cases, Kuminga's play is very similar to Wiggins. Kuminga is at his best when he attacks the basket and has that consistent mindset throughout the game.

Another possible option is forward Otto Porter Jr.

Porter Jr. provides that critical spacing is needed to succeed with the Kerr system. Porter Jr. has been thriving in the bench role this season, but as a veteran and a former No. 3 overall pick, Porter Jr. is no stranger to stepping up if needed.

Porter Jr. is the prototypical 3-and-D wing and has been one of the reasons why the bench mob has been successful.

Averaging a solid 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds, Porter Jr. brings veteran leadership and scoring to the starting lineup. In addition, Porter Jr. can feed off the gravity of guard Jordan Poole and Thompson while getting his high-IQ play on the defensive end.

In short, the Warriors should look for other options with Wiggins not playing up to par. On the other hand, perhaps a change like this unlocks some fire in Wiggins in time for the playoffs.

(photo credit: Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)