Rumor: Cleveland has deal in place for Love (Wiggins potentially involved)

How disingenuous must you be to use seasons where he was a rookie who didn't start and a season where he didn't even play to say "he missed the playoffs?" Seriously, try and do better than that.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>One certainty from league and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twolves?src=hash">#Twolves</a> people: Sixers GM Sam Hinkie is pissed that the Thad trade talk got out.</p>&mdash; Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson/statuses/497456399840858113">August 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Yeah, it's just messed up. It looks like terrible negotiating by the Cavs, on par with their previous terrible management decisions.

 

It's not enforceable. As far as under the table deals, I don't know much about them.

 

Minnesota is gonna one of the worst records next season especially being in west

 

I think the deal even before the draft was Bennett and the 1st pick and a future pick for Love. When Lebron came to the Cavs I think Cleveland tried to change the deal and keep Wiggins but it was never going to work.

The noise around draft day was that the Cavs picked Wiggins because the Wolves favored Wiggins over Parker.

 

So what was his excuse last year?

His point guard was 4th in assists per game and 2nd in steals per game
His shooting guard averaged 19 points per game shooting 39% from 3 point area
His small forward had the best year of his career and was 6th in steals per game
His center missed 30 games but still put up 17 and 9 when he was on the court

Was it because their defense sucked?

Well the Rockets' opp FG% was 44.3%, only 3% points better than Minnesota at 47%. The Blazers opp FG% was 45.1% and they got into the playoffs. The Suns were 1 game away from clinching the 8th seed and they were surrendering 45.6% shooting last year.

Was it because their bench sucked?

Maybe but that falls on the coach. Speaking of which...

Was it because Rick Adelman became dispassionate last year?

Maybe but like I said before, Harden in his first year got the Rockets into the Playoffs and you can't tell me his teammates that year were infinitely better than Martin, Peckovic, Rubio, and Brewer nor can you tell me an Adelman-mailing-it-in is worse than a regular McHale.


Love is probably one of (or only) elite player in the last 14 years that gets that elite title despite not getting his team into the playoffs. Last year was a golden opportunity for him and the Wolves but they blew that chance. Hell, even Kobe was able to get a team of Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Brian Cook, Sasha Vujacic, etc. into the playoffs.

 

What?

Um, apparently you didn't watch basketball this year. The Knicks missed the playoffs... though Melo had one of his best year's statistically.

Context matters. Years and years in the West and Melo takes the Nuggets, previously consistent playoff missers, into the playoffs basically every year. Sure, not deep every year, but into the playoffs, in the West. In a much much much easier conference, and they can't win more than 37 games.

Granted, this doesn't happen often.... but in the right context, can happen.

The Timberwolves is that right context, continually. A GM who misses and misses, and misses some more. Then holds back the 5th year to give to one of those misses (and Rubio is clearly a miss, when Steph Curry is picked 2 spots later, and DeRozan is picked just after that). Constant injuries. Poor roster building otherwise. Great, Pek gave you 17 and 9. But he's the exact OPPOSITE of the type of center I'd put next to Love. And finally, a STACKED conference.

This is not to say Love shares no blame. He clearly does. His defense needs to improve drastically. He needs to take more responsibility and leadership role.

Also, there are other players we can point to. Bosh is very similar... he made the playoffs twice... in the east, before Miami. Or Pau Gasol. Made the playoffs three times before joining the Lakers... but was 0-12 in those games.

 

Melo has been to the playoffs pretty much every year he has been in the league. Love has never even had a winning record. The Wolves team does have some talent.

 

He probably meant "never get his team to the playoffs." It is a legitimate concern. Love has some talent around him and puts up big numbers, yet it doesn't translate to wins.

 

I get that there's a difference between NEVER making the playoffs, and MISSING it one year... but it's kind of the point. Melo is in his prime, had his best year, is in a much much much easier conference... by virtue of having a significantly worse record than the Wolves this year despite a MUCH easier strength of schedule (http://espn.go.com/nba/stats/rpi/_/sort/SOS)...

proving, context matters...

Which gets you to a statement like "at some point it should have all come together at least for one year for the Wolves"... which on it's surface seems true. But given what I've already noted, it's not that inconceivable then that he hasn't made the playoffs yet.

Alternatively, you're asking yourself... switch Love with player X,Y, or Z and how would they fair? Would Lebron, Durant, prime Kobe, prime Duncan have taken one of those Wolves teams to the playoffs? Who knows? I can believe they would....

And, guess what... Love is NOT in those guys tier. I don't think anyone thinks he is or expects him to be. But would Melo, Dirk, LMA, Griffin, Noah, Bosh or any similar tier players have made the playoffs. I don't think so. When those players were on teams with similar surrounding talent, coaching situation, etc... they missed the playoffs.

 

Whether or not Love can make the playoffs on his own is irrelevant. He is the perfect 'Chris Bosh' 3rd wheel to Lebron and Kyrie.

[although Bosh DID make the playoffs on his own...]

If Love just gets his rebounds, hits his 3s, and stays out of the lane on the offensive end, then he is the perfect 3rd wheel for them.
Depth is a concern for Cleveland, but I have a feeling they can sort that out.

 

The Nuggets won 17 games the year they got Melo. The next year they won 43. Dirk is a tier above love.LMA, Griffin, Noah, Bosh - I am not sure.

 

They do have talent. More than the Knicks. But injuries, poor fit (no rim protection, subpar shooting) and no bench led to their downfall. They underachieved this year, but at the same time there were clear mitigating circumstances. In previous years, these factors were much bigger. More injuries, less talent, worse fit.

This was really the first year where I thought that on paper they could make the playoffs.

Anyway,

Rubio / Barea
Martin / Mo Williams
Wiggins / Brewer / Mbah a Moute
Bennett or Dieng
Pekovic / Dieng

This is a deep talented team. It's deeper and makes more sense than their last year's team, even if it has less overall talent. It again depends on Pekovic's health, it depends on Wiggins playing ok. But I wouldn't be surprised if it actually outperforms their last year's team, wins over 40 games, which will unleash a "See, Love was really overrated" statements. I won't agree with it, but I can see it happening.

 

Lebron
Love
Kyrie

That is a pretty good team in the East.

 

Why is he pissed? Everybody knows it's a matter of time before the Sixers trade Young. So what if the news got out a thad early?

 

I'm sure that is what will happen. That team is way more balanced than it was with Love. Love haters convientely ignore how Minnesota played in the West (Minnesota would have been an 8th seed out East) and that the Love-Pek frontcourt was a mismatch (not that Bennett-Pek is any better).

Incredible what happens when Lebron lives near your team. I partially blame us as fans and the media for creating this Cleveland superteam- since he likely chose Cleveland over other cities because of the backlash he suffered leaving in the first place.

 

Wiggins and nothing else doesn't match the salary required to get Love. They included Bennett because he has a higher contract, which means they get to keep more depth.

 

I'm simply stating facts. Love has never made the playoffs, in over half a decade. Instead of asking for examples how about you provide some examples of other times a superstar has failed to make the postseason in that long time span?

 

I'm simply stating facts. Love has never made the playoffs, in over half a decade. Instead of asking for examples how about you provide some examples of other times a superstar has failed to make the postseason in that long time span?