In a move that shakes up the landscape for both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, the Timberwolves finally agreed to ship Kevin Love out to the Cavaliers. After about a month of trade talks not really going anywhere, the Timberwolves finally got a package centered around 1st overall pick Andrew Wiggins. The trade can't become official until August 23rd because Wiggins can't be traded until one month after he was signed.According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the full deal will be Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a protected 2015 1st round draft choice for Love. Cleveland is doing the trade on the basis that Love opts out of his current deal in the summer and re-signs with the team for the max salary. Although a deal was close to being finalized a few weeks ago, both teams are being quiet about it until it can officially go through, the reason being that the Cavaliers were apparently afraid of the Chicago Bulls coming in and taking Love in the last minute, basically ensuring their trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The trade means a lot to Cleveland because, not only are they now the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, but they also acquired Love's Bird Right's to go along with him in the deal, ensuring that they can re-sign him despite not having the cap available to do so otherwise. Cleveland now sports a "Big 3" of Love, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James that will surely propel them to the Conference Finals, on talent alone.
For Minnesota, the trade comes off the heels of Love telling the team that he wouldn't re-sign with them in the off season. The Timberwolves chose the right decision in trading him, and they definitely got a good trade for him. Reports indicated that Golden State wasn't willing to include Klay Thompson in a deal, opting instead to offer David Lee and Harrison Barnes, which isn't a terrible trade, but not exactly what Minnesota was looking for. By doing this trade, they have just cut their rebuilding efforts in half by acquiring the last two first overall picks in Wiggins and Bennett. Granted, Bennett had one of the worst rookie seasons in NBA history last year, but that doesn't mean he can't potentially turn it around, and all reports so far have indicated that he has arrived to camp in incredible shape compared to last season. Wiggins is one of the most hyped players in years. Maple Jordan, as they call him because of his Canadian roots, is a freakish athlete who could use some work on some of his skills like perimeter shooting. He was very good in college, but his shooting percentage left a bit to be desired. His dribbling, likewise, is a little rough around the edges, but he still is just oozing with potential.
For Cleveland, this was definitely the right trade to make because there was no guarantee that Wiggins would ever develop into a superstar player at the NBA level, so trading him and Anthony Bennett for an established star was definitely the right choice. Love and Irving provide James with a few things that former teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh didn't; both Love and Irving can absolutely shoot the lights out from three point range and that should help open up space for the four time MVP. That's a thought that is absolutely scary, because teams definitely don't want to give James more space than he already has. Love and Irving are also younger than Wade and Bosh, though both of them are injury prone as well. Love has played only one full season and Irving has yet to complete an NBA season, while once breaking his hand while slapping a padded wall.
It was the right move for both teams, as Cleveland looked to get better to keep LeBron James happy and contend for an NBA Finals berth, and Minnesota looked to restock in the young talent department by acquiring the last two 1st overall picks and also getting a draft pick from Cleveland. Scary times for the rest of the East.
