The ceiling for the Cavs youth around LeBron James is high. Could landing Kevin Love take them into the stratosphere?
Yes, Love is an NBA All-Star, in the discussion for the best power forward in the game, and by the numbers, looks like it should be a no-brainer to bring him in.
Here’s 10 reasons why that would be the wrong move.
- 1. This is the first time in 25 years that a team had has four No.1 picks(in LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett) on its roster since the 1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers in Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Mychael Thompson—father of Golden State Warriors sharpshooter, Klay—won a title together in 1987.
- 2. Coming off of one of the best four-year runs in league history with the Miami Heat, it’s time for James to follow the mode of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. When Bryant won his first three titles he was the sidekick. But in the last two, he propelled the Lakers to a repeat and three straight Finals appearances. Scottie Pippen is one of the most underrated players in sports history, but it’s foolish to overlook that Jordan’s greatness affected the Arkansas native. As the best player in the world, James has to bring the best out of his young and inexperienced teammates.
- 3. Why did he leave Miami? James was guaranteed a spot in the Finals with the Heat. He left to elevate his legacy to another stratosphere. This current Cavs team has no Mo Williams, Sasha Pavlovic, or washed-up versions of Shaquille O’Neal and Ben Wallace.
- 4. Love has been unable to translate his dominant numbers into team wins. He has never made a postseason and despite being an elite scorer-rebounder for the past four years, his team has been irrelevant.
- 5. Love does not make the Cavs better than the reigning NBA champions, San Antonio Spurs, who have depth and are not built top-heavy. This year’s Finals MVP award didn’t go to any member of the Spurs’ Big 3. It went to Kawhi Leonard, who along with young assets like Patty Mills, Tiago Splitter and Danny Green showed the world that big names mean nothing in a team game.
- 6.David Blatt has said that Wiggins won’t be traded. Not to mention him signing with the Cavs hoping to coach the eventual first pick in this year’s draft. In his first year coaching and based off a lot of his sets, Wiggins fits his offensive style and will become more valuable when he improves his shooting.
- 7. Since the Lakers were the last team to have four No.1 picks, can we bring up the second best player of all-time? Abdul-Jabbar added years to his career playing along Magic and James already has won two championships playing with a declining Dwyane Wade, a face-up power forward in Bosh and no legitimate seven-footer in South Beach. Despite Wade’s ability to shoot and consistent health issues, he and James many times looked like the best duo since Jordan and Pippen. At 29, James gets to be the “old head” and will no longer have the burden of being the scorer, rebounder, defensive stopper and playmaker. By joining this young core and with his versatility, James can stick around like Tim Duncan and Abdul-Jabbar did for a while.
- 8. This is the best team for Wiggins. I’ve gone on the record many times to say that in order for him to maximize his potential, he had to be drafted by the right organization. When James decided to return, the Cavs became that. He has an All-Star point guard in Irving, veteran leaders in Mike Miller and James Jones, and who better to be his mentor than James? James was the most overhyped, media prima-donna the league might have ever seen when he arrived. Yet, he’s learned how to become a man, mature as a player and even through the social media era seems more comfortable in the spotlight. That takes pressure off Wiggins who didn’t show up in his last game at Kansas, to grow at a slower pace than often demanded from the first pick of the draft.
- 9. Stephen A. Smith has reported that Love is not the best locker room guy. He’s been one to point the finger and not necessarily been the best leader for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which makes sense if you look at the T-Wolves record in close games last season. Why bring a player like that to a young team who has already dealt with issues between Irving and Dion Waiters just a few months back?
- 10. Have you ever seen LeBron play with a guy who is more athletic than he is? Don’t worry I’ll wait.
There it is. 10 reasons why the Cavs should not deal Wiggins for Love. Will the Cavs front office make the right decision?
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