Wiggins or Love? That is the question

The promise of Andrew Wiggins needs to be weighed against the known star power of Kevin Love as the Cavs and Timberwolves remain in discussions. By TonyTheTiger – Own work, via Wikimedia Commons

Over the last few days, one of the biggest questions that has the sports world burning is whether or not the Cleveland Cavaliers should part with #1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins in order to acquire all star Kevin Love. LeBron James’s return to the Cavs has made the entire NBA a brand new league. Before LeBron’s return, Kevin Love wouldn’t even think about becoming a Cavalier– it would have been the same situation that he is currently in with the Timberwolves. The only difference is that he would be in the Eastern Conference instead of the West. Since LeBron has rejoined Cleveland, it has become a desirable landing spot for players like Kevin Love.

Teaming up LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving could cause the league to go into a frenzy. It could be an even bigger deal than when LeBron joined Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, due to the age of the players and how long a still-young James-Love-Irving trio could dominate. If they can make the trade, the question remains for the Cavs — What is Andrew Wiggins’ upside and should they trade him? A related question, from a different perspective is whether Minnesota should send Love to Cleveland for Wiggins, and in doing so create yet another super team? Here is my breakdown of the trade for both teams:

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron is home and the Cavs should do whatever it takes it keep him in Cleveland for the long haul. If LeBron says he wants Kevin Love then, as the Cavs management, you should do whatever it takes to get him to Cleveland. Parting with Wiggins and mortgaging some of the future could be seen as risky but would be worth it.

Wiggins isn’t even 20 years old and has so much potential, but that’s all it is…potential. We don’t know how Wiggins and his game will translate to the NBA, at least not yet. Wiggins could become one of the next NBA stars and if the Cavs trade him, they are potentially losing a future superstar. Love, on the other hand, is a known commodity. The city of Cleveland has suffered enough and it’s not clear what the right answer is beyond doing what LeBron wants and trying to avoid the Cleveland curse.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love is an absolute stud. He averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last season while playing on a losing team. If I’m the Wolves, there is no way in hell that I trade Love for an unproven rookie, no matter what his potential is. If I’m the Wolves I wait and see how Wiggins plays to see whether he’s worth it.

Wiggins being an unknown commodity is what has allowed other teams like the Bulls and Warriors to get more heavily into the conversation recently.

My take: You obviously won’t be able to get the same value and talent for Kevin Love if you trade him, but the Wolves can try and get as much back as they want because they know that their star is highly coveted. Based on optimistic projections and upside Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett for Love might be a good deal, but how could it actually turn out for the Wolves?

If I’m the Wolves, I take a step back and wait until the trade deadline to trade Love in order to get as much back as possible from a truly desperate team. The deal that intrigued me the most was the offer from the Warriors where they would have sent David Lee, Harrison Barnes and possibly Klay Thompson for Love and Kevin Martin. If I am the Wolves, I pull the trigger on that deal as soon as it is presented. Sorry LeBron.

As far as the Cavs go, if I were running the team, I wouldn’t be inclined to trade Wiggins for Love — not yet at least. Andrew Wiggins is so raw but shows so much promise. Having a player like LeBron next to him in these critical developmental years is probably the best thing to happen to the rookie from Kansas. James is the perfect role model for Wiggins and the Cavs should realize that. Andrew Wiggins, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James could be an absolutely scary trio for teams to face off against, and the Cavaliers at least owe it to themselves to see how that would play out before shipping Wiggins off to Minnesota.

The question will be how patient everyone can be. Especially Cleveland’s star from Akron, who has an out clause in his contract at the end of the season.