Is anybody else getting a feeling of deja vu?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have locked up LeBron James as they brace for a much brighter future, and the team has a chance to add another All-Star in the form of Kevin Love.
But a guard that has yet to play a minute of NBA basketball is holding up the deal.
According to ESPN NBA insider Chris Broussard, the Cavaliers’ unwillingness to include No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins in a deal to acquire Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves has created a holdup in trade talks.
Source: Cavs have told Wiggins he’s not being traded. TWolves want Wiggins. Cavs will try 2 do it w/out losing Wiggins. Must find 3rd team
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 11, 2014
Minnesota’s current stance: No Wiggins for TWolves, No KLove for Cavs
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 13, 2014
Of course, Wiggins’ presence in Cleveland made the Cavaliers a more attractive option for LeBron, as he had a chance to join a club that had three first-round selections: Wiggins, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Bennett.
But Wiggins has yet to play a game for the Cavs. He could a future star or he a could be a total dud — nobody knows — but what we do know is that Love is a perennial All-Star power forward that along with James and Irving gives the team a dangerous Big Three that should immediately lift the Cavs to top of the Eastern Conference.
Last month, the Golden State Warriors were reluctant to send sharp-shooter Klay Thompson to the Timberwolves in exchange for Love, and I argued they, too, were being too picky. Thompson may wind up being the league’s best 3-point shooter, but that’s an “if” — we already know what Love brings to the table: a skill-set unique for his position, with the ability to score in the paint, from long-range, and crash the boards. Is that not already a superior player to a pure shooter?
I just can’t comprehend the hesitation on the part of the Cavs and Warriors. Each are one player away from adding Love to their team, but both are unwilling to do so. It makes me question if there’s something about Love we don’t know. Are teams shying away giving up too much for him in case he winds up being a different player than the All-Star he has been in Minnesota? Is he a product of being the best player on a terrible team?
Or are they so well-informed of the Timberwolves’ predicament they’re going to simply play the waiting game and hope the team deals him by the trade deadline, or allows him to simply walk in free agency?
If the latter is the case, then maybe it’s just smart to wait. Both the Cavaliers and Warriors can contend right now, without Love. And if they can wait out the Timberwolves’ demands or be patient until the summer of 2015, why give up anybody if it’s not necessary?
