Wiggins or Love ?

[PcketknfNiels]

Also nobody has mentioned the possibility that if Cleveland doesn't trade for Love somebody else might and he might decide he likes the situation there. Or he gets lured by the Lakers in free agency. Either way, even if the Cavs did have the cap room to offer him close to a max deal next year, it's no sure thing that he's still on the market at that point or chooses Cleveland.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

People are acting like LeBron has an endless shelf life. Wade is only two years older and is on the verge of a breakdown. LeBron has been playing 82 games plus playoffs since he was 18. He's not going to fall off a cliff, but his peak likely won't last well into his 30s, either.

I think he's got a much longer shelf life than most players. Even once he loses a step, he's still big enough to bully through people and IMO, once he's no longer able to play in the backcourt I think he's got plenty of years as a dominant power forward ahead of him.

 

[auror]

Also nobody has mentioned the possibility that if Cleveland doesn't trade for Love somebody else might and he might decide he likes the situation there. Or he gets lured by the Lakers in free agency. Either way, even if the Cavs did have the cap room to offer him close to a max deal next year, it's no sure thing that he's still on the market at that point or chooses Cleveland.

Next man up. Someone's coming to play with Kyrie, Wiggins, and LeBron.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Love is a weird player. He has the best combination of shooting and rebounding of any player in the league, and he's one of the best of all time there. He's also a really good passer.

But it's never led to his team winning. And he was 3rd in win shares last year, so clearly he's a valuable player.

I think he's a perfect 2nd option on a championship team.

 

[Brochacho]

The best the Timberwolves ever did for KG was get him Latrell Spreewell and a washed up Sam Cassell. Minnesota just happens to be the worst drafting team in he league, they've been swaying back and forth from not good enough to not bad enough for 20 years. I wish Minnesota gave KG a good supporting cast, I don't think people realize how truly dominant he was in the early 00's.

 

[intlzncster]

Talk is the Cavs are offering Wiggins, Bennett, and a number 1 next year. Rumor that Minny is that holding out for more. LINK

The Warriors have thus far been unwilling to offer Klay Thompson, and are currently danglingDavid Lee and Harrison Barnes.

At this stage, I'd wait on Love. Even with Klay Thompson (which is unlikely), are the Warriors going to even come up with a comparable package?

If, in addition to his offensive skills, Love was an elite post defender, then I'd do the 2 player + 2 number 1's deal. The Cavs do NOT want for scoring right now.

 

[Rocktheworld]

To paraphrase Stephen A, 26 and 12 doesn't happen by accident

 

[James]

wiggins bennett,.. AND a pick?! Thats a little crazy, flip gotta pull the trigger.

 

[aceboon]

The best the Timberwolves ever did for KG was get him Latrell Spreewell and a washed up Sam Cassell. Minnesota just happens to be the worst drafting team in he league, they've been swaying back and forth from not good enough to not bad enough for 20 years. I wish Minnesota gave KG a good supporting cast, I don't think people realize how truly dominant he was in the early 00's.

washed up Cassell? Cassell averaged 20 & 7 and was 2nd team All NBA his first year there, if he doesn't get hurt in the WCF there's a good chance the TWolves would have beat the Lakers.

 

[aceboon]

@BlakeEllington
Reporter: "Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love they are two max players, they're here." Blatt responds quickly: "Kevin's not a max player yet."

this trade has the potential to go down as one of the WOATs. I was in the keep Wiggins camp from the beginning, now the Cavs have a roster that has zero chance of winning an NBA title this year, and now they're risking alienating Love to the point he doesn't come back and you gave away Wiggins for nothing.

 

[Kembacity]

Love, so obviously. They need to keep LeBron interested, Wiggins is now starting to score more, but he's going to need reps, and on that Cavs team he would not be a big option.

If they kept Wiggins and didn't get Love, they'd do much worse, and LeBron would most likely leave after this year. They had to go in win now mode, it doesnt allow you much time to develop young raw guys

 

[Walker11]

If I'm Love, I'm equally offended that my coach has turned me into Ryan Anderson.

 

[James]

they should wait to see how wiggins gels with lebron, unless lebron makes a power play. Trading for love would risk turning them into an average defensive team.

pretty much hit it on the head, a few posters did actually. 19-19. would be shocked if he isn't in LA next season

 

[James]

blatt should be gone soon though, right? this isn't europe man

 

[superjohn]

The thing people failed to factor in when talking about the Cleveland all-star team is that there is two sides of the court in basketball. Love and Irving don't concern themselves with the defensive end of the court. Lebron hasn't looked like himself this year and Love basically has no role on this team, the stars are turning on Blatt and Irving while a wonderful scorer still does not do a good job of getting his teammates involved. I'm glad their little all-star team isn't working out and it's great seeing a team like the Hawks playing amazing ball. I still think when it's all said and done this could be the Bulls year.

 

[aceboon]

The thing people failed to factor in when talking about the Cleveland all-star team is that there is two sides of the court in basketball. Love and Irving don't concern themselves with the defensive end of the court. Lebron hasn't looked like himself this year and Love basically has no role on this team, the stars are turning on Blatt and Irving while a wonderful scorer still does not do a good job of getting his teammates involved. I'm glad their little all-star team isn't working out and it's great seeing a team like the Hawks playing amazing ball. I still think when it's all said and done this could be the Bulls year.

I'm still waiting to see how the Hawks do in the playoffs since they don't really have a superstar(Milsap, Teague, and Horford are very good but not on that level), but they are very entertaining to watch and they're beating the hell outta good teams. They're basically Spurs East. I agree with you on the Bulls being the favorite in the East as long as they stay healthy, which is obviously dicey with Rose and now Thibs trying to run Butler into the ground before April hits.

 

[aceboon]

Love, so obviously. They need to keep LeBron interested, Wiggins is now starting to score more, but he's going to need reps, and on that Cavs team he would not be a big option.

If they kept Wiggins and didn't get Love, they'd do much worse, and LeBron would most likely leave after this year. They had to go in win now mode, it doesnt allow you much time to develop young raw guys

I think the issue is they're in win now mode but unless teams ahead of them suffer injuries I can't see them coming out of the East, and we know the top teams in the West would smash them. So now you went all in on a player who isn't making you a title contender, and now you may possibly lose him while giving up a guy who is showing he's going to turn into a star. At this point its hard to even say they're record would be worse with Wiggins instead of Love.

 

[superjohn]

I'm still waiting to see how the Hawks do in the playoffs since they don't really have a superstar(Milsap, Teague, and Horford are very good but not on that level), but they are very entertaining to watch and they're beating the hell outta good teams. They're basically Spurs East. I agree with you on the Bulls being the favorite in the East as long as they stay healthy, which is obviously dicey with Rose and now Thibs trying to run Butler into the ground before April hits.

That's my one worry with the Bulls, for no good reason Thibs always runs his starters into the ground. The Bulls have the deepest team in the league this year and Thibs still has starters playing late minutes in 30 point blowouts, I'll never understand it.

 

[RayRay19]

Still early and in the east they making playoffs. Anything can happen.

 

[EastCoast2]

Still very early indeed. I wonder how many cavs fans have two years down the road in their minds. Love is a glorified Ryan Anderson and Wiggins is 19 years old and starting to put it together.

 

[Matrim55]

Outside of that awful 1-4 start to the season, Cleveland are playing over .700 ball when LeBron plays. And it takes more than 3 months to create a functional team even from a superstar roster.

I agree that Love's drop-off in production has been worrisome, but I'd bet this team:

PG: Irving, Dellavedova
SG: Shumpert, Smith
SF: LeBron, Miller, Harris
PF: Love, Thompson, Marion
C: Mozgov

is playing pretty good ball come April. Maybe not championship caliber, but not as far off as they've looked so far.

There are going to be continued defensive questions, of course, and long-term I wouldn't bet against Love getting traded for a more defensive-minded 4 (not an outright specialist, just someone who is more of a presence on that side of the court who still has range. Like Kentan Facey!). But this team wouldn't be better with Wiggins instead of Love right now, and probably not two years from now either.

 

[traitor71]

Lebron is the only guy on that team that has ever won anything, anywhere. That counts for something. Miami had Wade and a lot of toughness that Cleveland simply does not have. And Love will never do what Bosh did, sacrificing his numbers and changing his style of play in an effort to win championships. Love will never do that. That team has a long way to go.

 

[champs99and04]

Cleveland's biggest mistake may have been signing Kyrie Irving to a max deal.

 

[Gurleyman]

Outside of that awful 1-4 start to the season, Cleveland are playing over .700 ball when LeBron plays. And it takes more than 3 months to create a functional team even from a superstar roster. I agree that Love's drop-off in production has been worrisome, but I'd bet this team: PG: Irving, Dellavedova SG: Shumpert, Smith SF: LeBron, Miller, Harris PF: Love, Thompson, Marion C: Mozgov is playing pretty good ball come April. Maybe not championship caliber, but not as far off as they've looked so far. There are going to be continued defensive questions, of course, and long-term I wouldn't bet against Love getting traded for a more defensive-minded 4 (not an outright specialist, just someone who is more of a presence on that side of the court who still has range. Like Kentan Facey!). But this team wouldn't be better with Wiggins instead of Love right now, and probably not two years from now either.

There is no way Kentan Facey could help the Cavs. He's not ready for the NBA - stop drinking the Koolaid. Plus, the NBA isn't allowed to dip into college for players in the middle of the season. They have a draft at the end of the year for that.

Geez. I expect better from you.

 

[Matrim55]

And Love will never do what Bosh did, sacrificing his numbers and changing his style of play in an effort to win championships. Love will never do that.

He's already done that. Love & Bosh's first-year numbers next to LeBron are eerily similar: http://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/2rl9k9/look_at_kevin_loves_stats_compared_to_bosh_his/

And look at his shooting numbers: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/loveke01.html

He's getting fewer looks at the rim and taking more long jumpers than at any point in his career.

Love is weirdly selfish in certain ways - he simply won't foul guys to prevent a lay-up - but saying he's not willing to sacrifice his numbers is nuts, and demonstrably untrue.