Wiggins a beacon of hope for lowly Timberwolves

In this Dec. 23, 2014, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' Dion Waiters (3) defends against Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. After an underwhelming start, Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, is running away with the rookie of the year award. (Mark Duncan / AP Photo)

MINNEAPOLIS -- The losses have piled up this season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The franchise will surely miss the playoffs for the 11th straight season.

Amid all the misery, Andrew Wiggins is giving long-suffering Wolves fans hope that they've finally found the player to get them out of the abyss.

The No. 1 overall draft pick came to Minnesota in the trade that sent Kevin Love to Cleveland. Wiggins has been heavily hyped since he was a teenager in Canada, and he has quickly separated himself from the rest of the rookie pack in the NBA.

Wiggins has won Western Conference rookie of the month in November and December and is the heavy favourite to win it again in January.

Wiggins leads all rookies in minutes and scoring.