Why the Cavs shouldn’t trade Wiggins for Love

NBA Free Agency is in full swing with rumours flying around here and there about where many of the league’s stars are going to end up. One of the main rumours in the air is a trade scenario that involves sending Minnesota big man, Kevin Love to join LeBron James in Cleveland in a trade package that involves NBA #1 pick, Andrew Wiggins. This is why the Cavs should not trade Wiggins for Love.

There is no doubt that the trio of James, Love and Irving would a force to be reckoned with and would be arguably one of the best trios in the game. Having a big guy that can stretch defences creating a huge hole inside for penetrators such as James and Irving to weave magic on the inside is a huge commodity. The concern would be how the Cavs work to cover the huge hole in defence with Irving and Love both on the court. But the 2014 NBA finals showed us that there is more to basketball than having a good trio.

With LeBron heading back home the Cavs have the ideal opportunity to build a team, and a team to win titles. My esteemed colleague, Mookie, will tell you that the Cavs have the perfect opportunity to go into ‘win now’ mode though deep down I’m certain he knows that isn’t what is best for Cleveland right now. James himself has stated that his return to Cleveland is a work in progress.

Wiggins is tipped to be a future star of the league. Let him learn from one of the best players of the modern era. What is the point in shipping him before you have seen the impact he can make in the league? If the Cavs wanted to be in ‘win now’ mode then the more NBA ready Jabari Parker would have been a better option.

A trade for Love is set to cost the Cavs the last two number one draft picks in Wiggins and Anthony Bennett as well as a future draft pick(s). Love would also eat up a lot of cap leading to the Cavs losing flexibility in Free Agencyageddon in 2015.

It makes little sense to trade away Wiggins and Bennett now for a core of James, Irving, Love, Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson when in a year’s time you can have a core of James, Irving, Wiggins, Bennett, Varejao, Thompson, and someone like Lamarcus Aldridge or Marc Gasol with the mountain of salary cap room they are capable of having. Sure, it will be tricky and will need to use a lot of creativity, but it could work. Get your weirdo with the beardo then.

So, Dan Gilbert, take out your Comic Sans font and send an open letter to the Wolves telling them “No Deal”.