This, his whole statement about going back home, being patient and growing with the team sounds fishy as hell now. Just read this: "I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys." All that crap about building an organic team and helping the youngsters, winning now being not the most important thing. And a few weeks later you press for Love and are willing to let all of the youngsters go to form a new super trio? He took the easy path and upgraded for the best situation possible.
Kevin Love is about to get his wish. The Timberwolves and Cavaliers have agreed to a trade in principle that would send Love to Cleveland for a package headlined by rookie Andrew Wiggins, according to Brian Windhorst in a radio appearance with Chris Broussard and Ryan Ruocco. The deal can officially be completed on Aug. 23 when Wiggins will no longer to bound to a rule that says players cannot be traded for 30 days following the signing of a new contract. Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall selection from the 2013 draft, is also reportedly involved in the deal, but he may not be sticking in Minnesota. Bennett could be re-routed to Philadelphia in a trade that would send Thaddeus Young to the Timberwolves. "The deal is done, but not done," Windhorst said. "The teams have agreed, but they can't say they have agreed and they can't agree because we are in this weird moratorium period. Because you can't trade Andrew Wiggins until the 23rd of this month." Windorst says that in the 19-day period before the trade can become official, it is possible a team could swoop in and get Love with a superior offer. The Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors have been the two other teams most closely tied to Love. Chicago can't offer a player with Wiggins' perceived long-term potential while Golden State has been hesitation to include 24-year-old shooting guard Klay Thompson in a package for Love. Love has not been shy about his intentions to explore the free agent market a year from now when he can opt out of his contract with Minnesota. LeBron James reportedly wants Love in Cleveland, and has not reached out to Wiggins since deciding to return to the Cavaliers. Neither Wiggins or Bennett were named in James' letter in Sports Illustrated when he talked about the young talent in Cleveland he's excited to play with. http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/8/4/5968935/kevin-love-trade-cavaliers-timberwolves-andrew-wiggins
Meh. This could have been concluded by a lot of us based on the bolded items above which were reported already and pretty much known.
Personally I didn't know the 6ers would get Bennett out of this; thought they get something bigger but yea, it's been known that Love would be traded
How idiotic of the Cavaliers. You call the Timberwolves' bluff of not trading Love unless Wiggins is involved. "Ok, see how you go about trading him to another team that knows he's going to walk to us in the offseason" and hang up. No trade partners for Minni. Lose Love for nothing. I almost want Wiggins to blow up and be ridiculously good just so it would be another stupid mistake by the Cavalier's franchise.
(1) You'd be wasting a year if you're the Cavs - you never know the future and to throw a year away is pointless. (2) He's not going to "walk to the Cavs" in the offseason because they don't have the caproom assuming they keep their other key pieces. (3) There are other trading partners like Golden State - Love hasn't stated he'd only sign with the Cavs. If offered a max contract by another competitive team, he's likely to take it.
Is it just me or are people hoping wiggins turns into an absolute beast now, this lebron going home angle looks more BS by the day
Windhorst says the Love/Wiggins trade has been agreed on in principle. There goes your 26/13 PF with range (36% lifetime on threes). Marion is in town today for a recruiting visit. If he signs, there goes your additional perimeter defender (what you were hoping Wiggins could bring to the table this season). Miller signed and is your backup wing, if he can stay healthy (they will run LeBron at the 4 some). Irving Waiters/Miller LeBron/Marion Love/Thompson (?) Varejao/Zeller Team still needs to stay healthy and more bigs, but you would essentially be adding LeBron and Love to a team that won 33 games last year. I don't expect Thompson to get traded since he has LeBron's agent. He's been at 12/9 the last two seasons and would be a good backup big. Waiters and Irving shot 36% and 37% from behind the arc last year, and Miller is 41% for his career. That could be a very good team IMMEDIATELY....
The problem with that is there are teams that will give up better packages for Love. The Cavs package without Wiggins isn't all that great. I'm positive Morey would throw a better package together for him without a guarantee that he would resign.
Waiters is the guy who doesn't fit, he wants his buckets, no way he'll get them with Lebron, Love and Kyrie, he'll be lucky to have 10 points a game. After this deal goes down, Cavs should call up the Pacers and see if they can swing Waiters & Varejao for Hibbert/Watson. Indiana frees cap space a year earlier with Varejao as an expiring, gets a decent young piece in Waiters who will just kill team chemistry enough for the Pacers to land a top 5 pick. Cavs take a chance on Hibbert, who if he regains form is one of the elite centers in the NBA and will mask the defensive issues Love has. Kyrie/Watson Miller/Allen Lebron/Marion Love/Thompson Hibbert/Haywood Thats a nice roster, still weak in the backcourt defensively but looking at the East, Cavs will need a strong frontcourt. Bulls, Wiz, Hornets, Hawks, all have beefy front courts. Hibbert fits a need for sure.
