LAS VEGAS – Is Andrew Wiggins worth giving up?
That is the question we are left with as Summer League comes to a close and the Minnesota Timberwolves continue their efforts to trade Kevin Love — but only if there is a bushel of goodies coming back.
On draft night, Wiggins, the super-athletic wing from the University of Kansas, was poised to be Kyrie Irving’s running mate and part of a core that had endless potential moving forward. A lot has changed since June 26th, with four No. 1 overall picks currently sitting on the Cavs roster, one of whom just made a homecoming that was kind of big deal.
Landing LeBron James changes everything moving forward for the Cavs, who are now clearly in win-now mode, as LeBron’s ability to opt out after his first season puts immediate pressure on the front office to build a championship-level roster. Wiggins clearly has the long-term potential that comes with being the number one overall pick in a strong draft, but with Love so available, the Cavs need to weigh whether Wiggins’ immediate production is enough to keep him around as a long-term investment.
The positives are hard to miss with Wiggins. He is an incredible athlete, and he competes hard at both ends of the floor.
You can clearly see from his body language and facial expressions that he is engaged and passionate about the game, which bodes well for him moving forward. He does not shy away from contact, coming from the outside aggressively for rebounds, and did a great job of getting himself to the free throw line, getting to the line for 20 attempts in one Summer League against Houston. He looked like a significantly longer, more aggressive version of Demar DeRozan, who came out of USC after one year, although with more upside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYy_y_Rvtp4
While Wiggins has a natural feel for the game, when seeing him play among men it is very clear that he is 19 years old. His decision-making is sub-par, as is evident by his 2.75 TO to 0.3 AS. These numbers aren’t too surprising after his 0.68 A/T ratio in Kansas, and it is clear that Wiggins will need to elevate himself in the mental aspects of the game if he is ever to become a player who can lead a team deep into the playoffs. He did not shoot the ball well in Summer League, but that is not typically an indicator of overall ability since things are a little bit different in a more structured team system.
Wiggins’ summer league performance leaves little doubt that he is a blue chip NBA prospect moving forward, but right now he is not at the level to be a top three contributor on a championship contending team. In theory, Wiggins could be a fantastic support piece to a LeBron James-led team playing in David Blatt’s schemes that don’t always pigeonhole players into classic positions and roles.
His versatility, athleticism, and competitiveness would surely be an added benefit, but he doesn’t provide that “third guy in a big three” level of reliability seen as a prerequisite to a championship team in the modern era.
It also can be debated whether Wiggins will truly be able to develop into the go-to guy he seems destined to become playing as a role player next to James and Irving. If the Cavaliers hang onto him, it’s not a sure thing he will develop into an all-NBA type talent like he would if he got to be a focal point like Jabari Parker will likely get to do in Milwaukee.
While on the face it may seem hard to justify trading two No. 1 overall picks for Kevin Love, which is most likely the case with Anthony Bennett’s (who has looked much improved in Vegas) name being included in trade talks, it is definitely something the Cavs need to consider. Love is the type of sweet-shooting, super-rebounding big man that has thrived in the past in Blatt’s system, who will likely see far more wide open looks playing alongside James and Irving.
It should also be noted that after playing with Team USA, Love has proven to have the mentality to play the role of Chris Bosh, in which there are reduced stats and a reduced role offensively, because he will understand that his effectiveness and contribution to wins is more valuable. This makes Love one of the most ideal candidates to team up with James in Cleveland, and significantly increases the Cavs’ odds of taking a title this year.
There is no question that Wiggins is a fantastic prospect who will likely have a very memorable NBA career.
But, at 19 years old, he is clearly not ready to be relied upon as a member of a championship-level team, like Love would be.
AJ Mitnick is an American living in Israel and working as an assistant coach for Maccabi Rishon Lezion of the Israeli Basketball Super League. A graduate of IDC Herzliya, Mitnick is in his third season with Maccabi Rishon, where they have made the Israeli League Final Four, and have twice made the Final Four of the Israeli State Cup . Follow him on Twitter.
Cavs fans all of a sudden believe that an offer of the worst number one pick since Kwame Brown, the only number one pick to be sent to the D league in his first year and draft picks in the late twenties are the best the Wolves can get, if Im the Wolves I let him walk for nothing before I take that trash offer. Cavs fans are nuts!
Listen, I have watched Love play for several years. I agree, losing Wiggins wold be tough to take. The city of Clevaland hasn’t won a championship in 50 years. You have LBJ! The time is now.
Picking Love over Wiggens and proved Lebronjames pushed it proves he lied in his letter to SI. Just wants fresh legs is all.
if i were cleveland cavs manager i would not trade wiggins for love no mater what love is over rated and is not better than wiggins
26 pts and 15 rb a game is overrated? The man scores a ton and crushes the boards. He is actually underrated I believe. Lebron needs someone to help create second chance pts and have the ability to shoot consistently from the outside which Wiggins cannot.
Love does not play defense.
if i was a cleveland cavs manager i would not trade wiggins for love no matter what because love is over rated is not better than wiggins
If the Cavs want Love, they have to include a third team and wait 30 days. And if he’s still not traded, and without Wiggins, here’s the only package: Bennett, Waiters, Thompson or Haywood and first rd pick but if you compare a package of Lee, Barnes and a first rd pick. I’m sure if you had to choose, the T-Wolves would take Cavs package only if it was Tristan is in it instead of Haywood. All three teams are playing chicken and waiting for first team to blink first.
Wiggins,Bennett, Thompson, Cleveland 1st for love get it done….Don’t punish these guys by sticking them behind stars.
The cavs are bidding against themselves. The best offer outside of cleveland is Harrison Barnes and David Lee or Marcus Smart and Celtic junk. Why should the cavs include wiggins, when those are the offers out there for Love. Tell me when the Warriors inculde curry or Thompson or another team steps to the plate. Until then, I would not move from the stance of waiters and bennett.
If we don’t get Love, that is fine. I think he is an all-star but not a super star. He seems like a stat stuffer. Tell me another player who has been in the league 6 years and not made the playoffs? Haden’s team in 2013 without Howard was horrible, but as a superstar, his team got to the playoffs. Love’s team was just as talented as Harden’s, but Love is not a superstar. He is a stat stuffer.
The question isn’t whether Love is better than Wiggins it’s why can’t we just wait the TWolves out and have them both.
Salary cap implications, the Cavs “have” to dump salaries to make room for Loves contract
True but waiters & Bennett works for the cap just like wiggins & Bennett. Keep wiggins, trade waiters.
Everybody seems to be forgetting about Tristan in this equation. He plays the same position as Love and all the kid’s done for the past two years is basically average a double-double. You can’t reward him by relegating him to the pine. He HAS to be part of any deal for Love. Waiters, Thompson, and a #1 and don’t offer a penny more.
Because Minnesota knows they are going to lose Love next year anyway. So they are for sure going to trade him this summer so they can get something of value from him.
THey won’t give him away either They are going to demand ALOT at first. But as time passes; the better for the Cavs for a more reasonable trade.
No, Love isn’t a free agent. Don’t have to dump any salary. Just need about 10.5 M salary going to Minny for Love’s 15.7 M salary. (1.5 ratio for teams not over the Luxury Tax).
Flip has said no Wiggins no trade. Get clue a people. this is not fantasy BB it is real.