It has been confirmed by league sources that the 2014 first pick Andrew Wiggins, 2013 first pick Anthony Bennett, and a protected 2015 first-round draft pick obtained from Miami will be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love in 2015. The five-year $120+ million dollar contract for Love will be yet another massive addition to the rapidly changing Cleveland Cavaliers line-up.
The deal has not yet been finalised as Wiggins was only just drafted, and NBA policy will not allow him to be traded until one month after his rookie signing with the Cavs. What this means is that if one of the teams decides to pull out of the trade until then, there will be no legal problems with that at all – just pissed off fans (or not?). But…how can Cleveland afford to pay the salary of LeBron, Irving, AND Love? If Cleveland did not sign Love NOW, they would not have had any possibility of doing so next summer, so it was a make or break decision. Therefore, they only could have possibly obtained him through a trade of several players in exchange for just one.
Perhaps now people are taking the Cavaliers as serious contenders for an NBA title. The combination of Irving, LeBron, and Love is arguably a much deadlier trio then the previous gang of Wade, LeBron, and Bosh. But were they too quick to get rid of Andrew Wiggins? Highlights of his 41 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 blocks game at West Virginia can be watched here.
Additionally, several people seem to be forgetting Anthony Bennett! Despite his difficult start to the NBA with a below average rookie season, he has shown great progress in the off season and summer league. So don’t completely write him off for next season, especially if he can keep making progress on his level of play.
Sure we have not seen him play yet but if he lives up to the hype in his first NBA season at Cleveland, he could prove to be an unstoppable force. However, it makes more sense that Wiggins be traded to another club to play small forward as opposed to staying in Cleveland for several reasons. Firstly, small forward is also LeBron’s main position, and the question rises as to whether it is good for a supposed prodigy to be playing in a superstar’s shadow. With Kevin Love gone from the Timberwolves, there still exists a threatening trio of Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, and Andrew Wiggins. Let’s not also forget that the Philadelphia 76ers are planning to send Thaddeus Young to the T-Wolves too, and although he does not play at Love’s level he is still able to put up some big numbers.
Additionally, there was the possibility of Kevin Love being traded to the Chicago Bulls. This could have potentially created a massive roadblock in Cleveland’s path for an NBA title, or possibly even ruined it.
It seems as if the Cleveland Cavaliers are not the only ones who are planning to undergo some dramatic changes – the Timberwolves are also looking to unload the following players: J.J Barea, Luc Mbah a Moute, and Alexy Shved. Hopefully the Timberwolves will pick up some players that fit their rotation better, and the Wolves could possibly represent themselves as a genuine threat to the Western Conference.
