With the silence on the Love trade talks that has gone on since Wiggins signed his rookie deal, I figured that this might be a great time to bring out some wild speculation. While it's being reported the Chicago is putting out some firm offers to the Timberwolves that includes some combination of 3 of the 4 players Gibson, Mirotic, Butler, and McDermott, Minnesota obviously is still holding out for more. Further reports are coming out that Minny is very interested in adding Thaddeus Young to replace Love if a trade does indeed go through. This throws a very interesting twist into this saga that could very well end up with the Cavs landing Love, even if the cost may seem a bit high.
Here's the trade that I propose the Cavs put on the table:
Here's the trade that I propose the Cavs put on the table:
CLE: Kevin Love, Gorgui Dieng
PHI: Dion Waiters, J. J. Barea, MEM 2015 1st round pick (through CLE)
MIN: Thaddeus Young, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, MIA 2015 1st round pick (through CLE)
PHI: Dion Waiters, J. J. Barea, MEM 2015 1st round pick (through CLE)
MIN: Thaddeus Young, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, MIA 2015 1st round pick (through CLE)
While this might seem like a price pretty steep to pay to get Love on the Cavs, you have to consider the outcome of the trade. First of all, you will have successfully assembled a "Big-3" in the prime/pre-prime of their careers, albeit at the sacrifice of some promising young players. Second, I believe that Waiters will end up getting the short stick on the team if he remains with the Cavaliers, assuming a Love trade goes through that does not involve him. Irving and LeBron are both very ball-dominant players by instinct, which doesn't leave much time for Waiters to find his place to control the offense. Waiters also seems to be slightly put-off by the idea of coming off the bench again, even though he has said that he would do whatever is best for the team.
In the long run, this deal gives all three teams good opportunities to move in the directions that they want to continue on. Philadelphia can continue to tank while developing a young, promising backcourt of Waiters and MCW. Minnesota can try to push for a playoff spot with Young and have some promise for the future in Wiggins and Bennett. Cleveland gets the third major piece of the puzzle in Love as well as a promising young rim protector that will shore up any defensive liabilities that Love may bring with him. As a side note, another possibility for this trade would be to swap out Dieng (Minny really likes him and his potential) and add in Turiaf and Glenn Robinson III to cover some of the void at the C and SG positions.
So what do you think readers? Do you like this idea? Hate it? Have any of your own proposed trades?
In the long run, this deal gives all three teams good opportunities to move in the directions that they want to continue on. Philadelphia can continue to tank while developing a young, promising backcourt of Waiters and MCW. Minnesota can try to push for a playoff spot with Young and have some promise for the future in Wiggins and Bennett. Cleveland gets the third major piece of the puzzle in Love as well as a promising young rim protector that will shore up any defensive liabilities that Love may bring with him. As a side note, another possibility for this trade would be to swap out Dieng (Minny really likes him and his potential) and add in Turiaf and Glenn Robinson III to cover some of the void at the C and SG positions.
So what do you think readers? Do you like this idea? Hate it? Have any of your own proposed trades?