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

Love isn't Bosh on defense. Offensively, yes it's be good, but defensively, it'll be a sieve with Kyrie, Love, and Waiters.

 

I would rather put Dion in there than Bennett. Waiters needs the ball in his hands and didn't play well with Kyrie... now you add Lebron, he's totally useless. If Bennett looks even halfway decent in the early part of the season, he's worth A LOT more than Waiters, and they can probably swing him for another core piece.

 

This could turn out to be a great deal for cleveland if Bennett turns into a player, which he has the talent to do.

 

Do you mean for Minnesota?

 

We're really only talking about 2 years, last season and 3 seasons back. Counting the early years or his injured year is a bit harsh, also his position isn't one that can really lead teams far, it's basically defined by what it can't do (anchor defense or handle the ball), it's not an accident that no pure power forward (ie one that can't slide across and anchor the defense) has ever won an nba title as the lead dog.

 

Durant has never won a title, therefore James Jones is a better player. Just stating facts.

Critical thinking is something you might want to try some time.

 

I haven't been able to keep track of the possible lineups for Cleveland in these rumored deals.

Outside of Irving/Lebron/Love, what does the rest of the Cavs potential lineup look like?

 

*Note: Allen and Marion have not signed with them yet.

 

Irving-Waiters-James-Love-Varejao

Bench:
Tristan Thompson
Haywood
John Lucas III
James Jones

And a few no name guys. And theyre heavily rumoured to get Ray Allen and Shawn Marion.

That team is one good defensive center away from being the best team in the NBA.

 

They kind of stink on D at the moment. Looking at the roster so far, they appear to have 1 guy who plays defence. Love/ Varajao is soft tissue paper up front.

 

I should have added: but I think they'll win the East.

 

Cleveland needs to go after Larry Sanders or John Henson.

 

That is true. I wouldn't be surprised if Marion starts instead of Waiters or if Thompson and Dion get shipped out for a starting center and a defensive two guard.

 

agree but how will bennett look half way decent, when he will be playing behind Love, James, TT and Andy.....hard to work out how he gets minutes....

the Cavs have to do this trade, but certainly seems a lot and defensively they are going to fun to score against in the paint, someone like sad Omer would have been perfect for this team, or better yet if they had swung Dieng into the trade

 

PF isn't a position that can lead a team to the playoffs? We are talking making the playoffs, not winning titles.

And I wouldn't say Barkley and Malone lost the 3 Finals that they led their teams to because they couldn't anchor the defense. And Dirk has won a title as the lead dog and he can't anchor anything.

 

So I take that as a "no, I can't list many, if any, examples of superstar players going half a decade without a postseason bid or winning record"?

The insults typically come when folks can't make a legit point.

 

Unless they can iso down the stretch ala Dirk or anchor their defense, ala Duncan/KG, in the western conference, probably not, no. Could he lead a team to the EC playoffs or a team with some really high level players that aren't quite as good as him? sure, but he's never been in a situation like that, and there are some horrible playoff teams in the east. Teams need closers and anchors, and power forwards are the most likely not to be able to do either, it's not like Blake or LMA or any number of them could in place of him.

Minnesota was a combination of no defensive anchor (worst rim protecting center in the nba...) and no closers (biggest chokers in the nba), it was a recipe for disaster.

 

Not to mention- Love wasn't surrounded by spectacular three point shooters either. He's definitely not Dirk- but Love is definitely quality talent and you'd have to be blind or deliberately obtuse not to see that. The guy can score from pretty much anywhere and is an excellent rebounder. He's probably not the type of guy you want as a first option- but I don't think anyone besides Lebron could have carried any of those TWolves teams to a Western playoff seed.

 

In other words, unless they have the skills to dominate and lead a team then they can't lead a team? It sounds like you are just listing why "Love specifically" couldn't get the job done. That doesn't mean "PF's" can't get the job done. Love isn't skilled enough offensively to iso down the stretch of a game?

He's had enough talent on his recent teams to make the playoffs. Surely enough to post ONE winning record.

 

I suspect that Kevin Love will look just fine defensively.

First, even though he is not a rim protector but the relevant numbers do not show him to be a drag defensively. The Wolves were not some sort of bottom-dwelling defensive team. In fact, they were ranked 12th defensively in points per possession, one spot ahead of the Rockets even though the Wolves do not have a rim-protecting center in Dwight Howard. His xRAPM stats are also in the positive territory. He does give effort defensively and chase down defensive rebounds-- and rebounding is a part of defense.

Second, I think playing with LeBron will likely put a positive light on Love's defense. Winning makes everyone look good and LeBron will make everyone's job easier on both ends of the floor. Chris Bosh never looked like anything special defensively in Toronto, either, especially when he played on losing teams like the 09/10 Raptors that ranked last in defense among all 30 teams. But he was a critical defender on a team that went to the Finals 4 times and won twice in Miami.