CLEVELAND – After first denying interest in trading Andrew Wiggins, it appears that the Cleveland Cavaliers have upped their pursuit of Kevin Love.
According to The Lake County(OH) News-Herald, Cleveland had changed it’s original position about offering their Wiggins, after stating that would not deal the former Kansas Jayhawk, and top overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, in a prospective deal for the 25-year-old Love.
Love, who averaged 26.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 77 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, may be a short-term boost for the Cavs championship hopes, but a bad move in the long-term due to Wiggins tantalizing upside and athleticism.
While still a bit raw and not as refined as Love, Wiggins, at the age of 19, gives the Cavaliers something that they’ve never had; a lockdown defender on the wing capable of guarding out on the perimeter.
While Love is a proven talent in the NBA in being named to the NBA All-Star game three times and becoming only the second player since 1980-81 to record two seasons of averaging 26 points and 12-plus rebounds twice—with Shaquille O’Neal doing it four times—Love’s lack of defense, inability to make teammates better or lead Minnesota to the playoffs could be a cause for concern.
One has to question whether Love is truly worth mortgaging a promising prospect—and numerous first-round picks for a player who padded his stats playing on a mediocre—at best—T-Wolves team.
Another area of concern in Love is that while he has posted impressive numbers in his six seasons out of UCLA, the former Bruin has never played a full 82-game season, with the closest being 81 in his rookie year, has played a minimum of 70 games three times in 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2013-14.
If they do decide to trade for Love, Cleveland will never get the chance to see how much talent Wiggins brings to the table, and will only be doing themselves a disservice in shipping of a talented two-way player for a scorer, who has not officially committed to stating in Cleveland long-term.
If the Cavaliers are willing to roll the dice in such a move, then they must be sure and go all in, as they will be betting against themselves and their future if they fail.
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