Over the past three weeks, no team has captured as many headlines as the Cleveland Cavaliers. Once a laughingstock of the NBA, the organization has been revitalized by the return of the man it once condemned: LeBron James.
No individual player has been involved in quite as many trade rumors as Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love. Entering the final year of his contract, many believe that Love will leave for nothing if Minnesota doesn’t deal him.
It’s only right that Love and the Cavaliers are now tied together by trade rumors.
James joins fellow All-Star Kyrie Irving and a pair of No. 1 picks, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, in Cleveland. He also has a pair of Top 5 picks in Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters, a rebound machine in Anderson Varejao and old friends Mike Miller and James Jones to call his supporting cast.
In some eyes, that isn’t enough to suffice. Thus, trade rumors have spawned.
While many have speculated otherwise, Chris Haynes of CSN Northwest reports that Wiggins isn’t going anywhere—not even in a trade for Love.
Cavs G/F Andrew Wiggins has not been made available to Wolves or anyone, multiple league sources tell @CSNNW. They’re not budging right now.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 19, 2014
The confusion continues. Wiggins was the No. 1 overall draft choice in the 2014 NBA Draft. He’s been labeled as a future superstar since he was in high school, pairing elite athleticism with top-tier potential on both ends. Until he brings it at the next level, however, nothing is guaranteed. Something similar can be said for Bennett, who was taken No. 1 in 2013. He had a disappointing rookie season, but he’s slimmed down and shined during the Las Vegas Summer League. According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, that uncertainty has Cleveland willing to include both Bennett and Wiggins in a potential trade for Love.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers have discussed a blockbuster trade centered on Kevin Love and the league’s past two No. 1 draft picks, league sources told ESPN.
In an attempt to add Love, a three-time All-Star, the Cavaliers are willing to part with Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett.
One source said the Cavs also are willing to give up a first-round draft pick for next season. Any other players involved in the talks are not known.
At one point, a trade seemed close to happening, but Minnesota wants more than the Cavaliers are currently offering, sources said.
The past two No. 1 overall draft picks and another first-rounder for one player. Captain Obvious Alert: that’s a lot. There’s a large population that believes Wiggins’ upside is far too valuable to trade away. He’s already a megastar who’s being likened to future Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady. There’s an equally massive group of people who work under the belief that an established star is more valuable than a player who could become one. Those are the folks who believe that a Love-for-Wiggins swap would do nothing but benefit Cleveland. The question is, would the Timberwolves go for it? Or is there another option that better suits Minnesota’s goals?
Not to burst Cavs fans bubble but if Warriors are willing to include Thompson that trumps Cavs. Wolves prefer Klay bc more ready per source. — Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) July 18, 2014
An interesting development, to say the least.
Klay Thompson has been linked to Minnesota for quite some time. The Golden State Warriors and the T-Wolves have been in reported trade talks for weeks, with a Thompson-for-Love switch at the center of it all.
Thus far, the Warriors have been reluctant to split up the Splash Brothers. Minnesota, meanwhile, has been hesitant to part ways with its top gun without gaining the maximum level of compensation.
Thompson is an elite shooter who’s coming off of a season in which he averaged 18.4 points on 41.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He also emerged as one of former head coach Mark Jackson’s top defensive weapons.
Overshadowed by Stephen Curry and, occasionally, David Lee with Golden State, Minnesota reportedly believes it can enable Thompson to become a star.
One way or another, a contender will go all-out for Love. Whether or not the T-Wolves will blink has yet to be seen.
Around the League
- One of the biggest names remaining in free agency is two-time NBA Champion Ray Allen. As reported by Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, Allen is in no hurry to make a decision on his future. “Free agent Ray Allen is scheduled to be in China until July 27 & still doesn’t appear to be in a rush to decide playing future, sources said.” Allen turns 39 on July 20.
- According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Los Angeles Clippers are in talks to hire Sam Cassell as an assistant coach under Doc Rivers. Cassell is currently employed by the Washington Wizards, but the two organizations are negotiating terms to execute this move. “Clippers working on arrangement w/ Wizards to hire Sam Cassell for Doc Rivers’ coaching staff, but no deal in place yet, sources tell Yahoo.” Cassell won an NBA Championship as a player under Rivers with the 2008 Boston Celtics.
- Speaking of the Wizards, the team has re-signed big man Kevin Seraphin. Per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, “Kevin Seraphin has signed $3.8M qualifying offer with Wizards, league source tells Yahoo.” Seraphin, 24, averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10.9 minutes in 2013-14.