It’s the NBA offseason, which can only mean one thing — it’s time for the annual Kevin Love trade speculation.
Actually, it’s not even speculation. More like one NBA writer having some fun with a proposed deal centered on (you guessed it) the Cleveland Cavaliers veteran power forward.
That said, it may not be such a horrible idea. Or maybe it is. You decide. (And if you’re feeling frisky, add your comments below this post. I’ll even hop in.)
Anyway, the suggestion comes from Chase Hughes of NBC Sports, who suggests the Cavs should trade Love to the Golden State Warriors for guard/forward Andrew Wiggins.
Sound familiar?
It should. The Cavs selected Wiggins with the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2014, marched forward with him in summer league and angrily denied any talk they might ship him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Love. (For the record, angry denial from the Cavs has been somewhat of a trend during my 10 years of covering the NBA.)
But after repeatedly making allegations of fake news, guess what happened?
Yeah. The Cavs traded Wiggins (and Anthony Bennett) to the Timberwolves for Love.
Wiggins was finally moved from the Wolves, to the Warriors, for guard D’Angelo Russell at the February trade deadline, and there’s no telling how Wiggins might fight next to Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
But Love … well, he could be the perfect match. And Wiggins would give the Cavs another younger guy who can score (21.8 points per game last season) and really defend on the perimeter when motivated (seemingly only occasionally).
According to Hughes, it might just be a win-win yet again.
“Love would give the Warriors another major piece without them having to part with the No. 2 overall pick,” Hughes wrote. “He’s a stretch-four ideal for their small-ball brand, and he is also still a very good rebounder when the Warriors need help in that department.
“Imagine the spacing with lineups featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Love. Draymond Green could fill in the gaps defensively and with his passing.”
OK, but what about Wiggins back with the Cavs?
“The Cavs are light at the wing position and could use another athlete to run the fastbreak with their two recently drafted guards — Darius Garland and Collin Sexton,” Hughes wrote. “While Cleveland wouldn’t get the first-round pick they might covet in a Love deal, they would get younger with Wiggins, who is still only 25 and not yet in his prime.”
It’s rare for people to propose a trade idea that I don’t hate, but I respect Hughes’ work, and frankly, this is something that can get you thinking.
Terrible? Awesome? One-sided? All of that is up for you to decide.
