Why trading Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love makes sense for Cavaliers

Andrew Wiggins is loaded with potential, but the Cavaliers should include the No. 1 pick in a trade for Timberwolves All-Star power forward Kevin Love.

Chris Mannix | Jul 23, 2014

Why trading Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love makes sense for Cavaliers /

I understand that over the last few weeks NBA coaches and executives have differed over whether the Cavaliers should make No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins the centerpiece of a trade for Timberwolves All-Star power forward Kevin Love. Very credible writers from very credible outlets quoted and paraphrased some (presumably) very credible folks who anonymously doubted that Love was worth it. They cited Love’s defensive issues and the fact that he has never sniffed the playoffs in six years with Minnesota. They pointed to Wiggins' tantalizing talent and suggested that in three years we could all be laughing at the suggestion of such a swap.

I believe these league officials exist. I just didn't run into any of them while chatting up many talent evaluators during eight days at the Las Vegas Summer League.

The vast majority of opinions sounded something like this: Do the deal. If the Wolves want Wiggins, hand him over. If they want last year’s No. 1 pick, Anthony Bennett, give up him, too. If they prefer the fourth selection in 2012, Dion Waiters, he should be on the table. A future first-round pick? That’s a small sweetener to pay for a player with Love’s skill set.

Rare Photos of Kevin Love

1989

A six-month-old Kevin Love is introduced to basketball at a very, very early age.

1991

At two years old, Love knew he was destined for a career in hoops

1994

A five-year-old Kevin Love rocks a sweet Jerry West jersey.

2004

Love attended the 2004 Nike All-American Basketball Camp in Indianapolis, but controversy ensued when he chose to play in Reebok's ABCD Camp.

2006

Here's Love donning his Denver Nuggets-colored ABCD jersey.

2006

Love gets chippy at ABCD camp.

2007

Love finished his high school career at Lake Oswego High in Oregon as the all-time leading scorer in state history with 2,628 points, breaking a 50-year-old record. He also led the Lakers (yes, the Lakers) to a state title.

2007

You know you're big time when people want your autograph in high school.

2007

The 2007 McDonald's All-American National High School Player of the Year shot hoops with Quentin Harris during a visit to a Ronald McDonald House in Louisville, Ky.

2007

Because who wouldn't want an autographed Topps card of Greg Oden from the McDonald's All-American game?

2007

2006 Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year Greg Oden congratulates the 2007 Gatorade Athletes of the Year, Kevin Love and Maya Moore, in Los Angeles.

2007

Just hanging out at the Pac-10 Media Day.

2007

UCLA's Kevin Love hangs out with USC standout O.J. Mayo on the set of a photo shoot for SI.

2007

He'd be wise to frame this photo.

2008

Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images

Love does his best Fred Astaire impression.

2009

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Love interviewed former NBA forward Robert Horry before Game 1 of the 2009 Finals between the Magic and Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

2009

No, he did not think (at least, we hope he didn't) this was a good look. It was merely "Kurt Rambis Night" at the Target Center.

2010

Love, with former UCLA teammate Russell Westbrook, joking around during 2010 NBA All-Star weekend in Dallas.

2010

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

While helping Team USA to a gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, Love spent his off time touring Europe. Check him out in front of the Acropolis in Athens.

2010

Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Love and his father, former NBA player Stan Love, dined at the Four Seasons in Istanbul during the World Championship.

2010

Love and Dwight Howard guest star on "The Suite Life on Deck," which may have stifled any career in acting.

2011

Love shows some skills in Times Square after announcing he'll be playing in upcoming beach volleyball tournaments during the NBA lockout.

2012

Love shares a laugh with Anthony Davis during the 2012 Summer Olympics.

2012

Love, who grew up with dreams of playing quarterback, looks ready to gun a t-shirt.

2013

Love takes a dip during an event for Special Olympics.

2013

Love used a Ricky Rubio figurine as his good-luck charm while representing the Timberwolves at the 2013 draft lottery.

2013

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Love chats with Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski during a minicamp.

2013

Love and the Timberwolves had their game in Mexico City postponed because of smoky conditions in the arena.

2014

Love wields a drill during the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service.

2014

Injured with a hyper-extended right elbow, Love cheers his teammates from the bench during their game against the Houston Rockets.

2015

Kevin Love, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving celebrate after a 113-108 overtime win over the Washington Wizards in April 2015.

2015

Kevin Love reacts after a season-ending shoulder injury against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series in April 2015.

2015

Cleveland made the NBA Finals but was forced to play the majority of the series without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, both who were injured.

2015

LeBron James and Kevin Love attend the 2015 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

2015

Kevin Love and Mike Krzyzewski of the USA National Team share a laugh during a minicamp at UNLV in Las Vegas.

A sampling:

“I wouldn’t hesitate to trade Wiggins,” an Eastern Conference head coach said. “He could be a great player, sure. But Kevin Love is 25 and a top-10 player right now. I don’t know what there is to think about."

Or this, from an East assistant general manager: “I’d trade Wiggins. If I’m Minnesota, I ask for Wiggins, Waiters and two No. 1 picks. And you know what? If I’m Cleveland, I do it.”

Think about what Love would bring to Cleveland's lineup. We all know about his three-point shooting; he sank 37.6 percent of his 6.6 attempts last season, making him arguably the league's most dangerous floor-spacing big man. LeBron James loves playing high pick-and-roll, and with Love setting screens he would have an ideal pick-and-pop partner. Love also connected on 39.3 percent of his mid-range shots, according to NBA.com, a mark slightly better than that of scoring small forwards such as James, Rudy Gay and Luol Deng. Pick your poison, defense. Do you trap James and try to keep the NBA’s most unstoppable offensive force from getting into the paint, leaving Love open? Or do you switch, defend Love closely and allow James to turn whatever helpless big man who jumps out on him into a turnstile?

Evaluating Wiggins, Parker, more lottery picks at Vegas Summer League

It's no secret, of course, that Love has his limitations on defense. Some scouts have said he's an indifferent defender, and at a listed 6-foot-10 with a more grounded game, he’s not a reliable rim protector. But rebounding has to be folded into a player’s CV here, and Love led the NBA with 9.6 defensive boards last season and, according to ESPN.com, ranked first in rebounding rate among power forwards who played at least 30 minutes per game. Put Love with a defensive-minded center -- new Cavs acquisition Brendan Haywood, 34, could be serviceable if he has anything left in the tank after missing last season with a broken foot -- and it won’t be a total disaster.

There is something else here that bears repeating: Love is 25 years old. (He'll be 26 at the start of the season.)This is not a thirtysomething on his last legs or a broken-down mercenary being brought in to give a team one more shot at a championship. This is a young, still-improving veteran entering his prime. There is no reason to believe that Love, a committed-to-Cleveland-for-life (we think) James, 29, and 22-year-old Kyrie Irving, who signed a five-year extension last month, can’t be the core of a team that dominates the East for the next half decade, if not longer.

Landing a player of Love's caliber requires surrendering something substantial in return, which is what made Cleveland’s early efforts to sell Minnesota on a Waiters/Bennett package -- or Bennett/Tristan Thompson or Waiters/Thompson -- laughable. Wolves president/coach Flip Saunders knows he can’t present a haul of so-so prospects to a fan base that hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2004 or real relevance since Kevin Garnett was shipped to Boston in '07. He needs a focal point, and Wiggins would be it.

Wiggins has enormous potential. There is an effortlessness to his game, an ease exemplified by a ridiculous baseline spin and dunk against Philadelphia that quickly became one of the most buzzed-about plays from the 11-day competition in Las Vegas. The 19-year-old swingman, one of the rare college players who arrives in the NBA as a strong defender, could blossom into a perennial All-Star. Maybe more.

SI.com's 2014 NBA free agent tracker

Still, Cleveland has to part with him if that's what it takes to get Love, who would instantly shake up what now appears to be a free-for-all in the East. Many consider Chicago to be the early favorite, but Derrick Rose has played only 10 games over the last two seasons and newcomer Pau Gasol just turned 34 and has a lot of mileage. Washington has bolstered its frontcourt depth and rebounded from Ariza's departure with the signing of Paul Pierce, but its backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal is still young and the injury-prone Nene has to stay healthy. Indiana took a huge hit when Lance Stephenson signed with the Hornets. Miami recovered nicely from LeBron’s exit by adding Deng to complement the re-signed Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, but it will need a big season from Wade (and Wade's knee). Toronto is probably one piece away. Brooklyn, New York and Charlotte are probably two.

With Love, the Cavaliers can win the East. It won’t be easy, and the lack of playoff experience for youngsters such as Irving and Thompson will work against them. But it’s doable. Which is why Cleveland needs to act quickly and not let Golden State (which is still divided about whether to offer Klay Thompson for Love, according to a source), Boston, Denver or Phoenix devise a deal that appeals to Saunders. Minnesota isn't in the ideal negotiating position because Love can opt out of his contract after next season, but that hasn't stopped front offices from working overtime to construct creative packages to submit to Minnesota. And the Wolves need to like only one to pull the trigger and potentially deny Cleveland.

The Cavaliers seem to realize this, though. On Tuesday, they sent Carrick Felix, a 2015 second-round pick and cash to the Jazz for John Lucas III, Erik Murphy and Malcolm Thomas. Why? Lucas, Murphy and Thomas have nonguaranteed contracts, making them attractive trade chips. It’s the type of deal that moves Cleveland one small step closer to Love and, perhaps, to the championship James so desperately wants to bring home.

Published Jul 23, 2014

CHRIS MANNIX

Chris Mannix is a senior writer at Sports Illustrated covering the NBA and boxing beats. He joined the SI staff in 2003 following his graduation from Boston College. Mannix is the host of SI's "Open Floor" podcast and serves as a ringside analyst and reporter for DAZN Boxing. He is also a frequent contributor to NBC Sports Boston as an NBA analyst. A nominee for National Sportswriter of the Year in 2022, Mannix has won writing awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Pro Basketball Writers Association, and is a longtime member of both organizations.