The Cleveland Cavaliers hit the jackpot by signing LeBron James to a two-year contract, but the Cavs now face the most intriguing dilemma in sports: Do they gamble on James winning a title with a mostly young and unproven surrounding cast, or do they trade No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love?
There are great arguments both for and against trading Wiggins for Love. Most fans that want Wiggins to remain in Cleveland contend that Wiggins, with his unrivaled athleticisim, could wreak havoc defensively alongside LeBron, and he’s got the offensive skills and potential to score 20 points per game as a rookie. With a veteran star like James around, the pressure is off Wiggins to carry a team and he can instead focus on maximizing his potential. His ceiling is so high that it’s unfathomable to let him go without playing a single regular-season game.
Those in favor of trading Wiggins will counter by pointing out that Love, a three-time All-Star, is unquestionably one of the ten best players in the league right now. A core of James, Irving and Love would make the Cavs heavy favorites in the East from day one, and Dan Gilbert can’t afford to waste James’ prime years.
Mike Krzyzewski, who has coached Kevin Love on Team USA, thinks the Cavs shouldn’t think twice about dealing Wiggins. Coach K told John Feinstein that he would make the trade without “one second of hesitancy.”
Via CBS Radio:
“He’s a double-double guy, but he’s a double-double guy that can spread the court. There aren’t many double-double guys, if any, who spread the court. He can go inside and outside…. No pun intended, but I love Kevin Love.”
Those in favor of trading Wiggins will counter by pointing out that Love, a three-time All-Star, is unquestionably one of the ten best players in the league right now. A core of James, Irving and Love would make the Cavs heavy favorites in the East from day one, and Dan Gilbert can’t afford to waste James’ prime years.
Mike Krzyzewski, who has coached Kevin Love on Team USA, thinks the Cavs shouldn’t think twice about dealing Wiggins. Coach K told John Feinstein that he would make the trade without “one second of hesitancy.”
Via CBS Radio:
“He’s a double-double guy, but he’s a double-double guy that can spread the court. There aren’t many double-double guys, if any, who spread the court. He can go inside and outside…. No pun intended, but I love Kevin Love.”
Krzyzewski points to LeBron’s age as the deciding factor. James will turn 30 this season, and Wiggins will certainly need a few years to develop into a championship-caliber sidekick like Dwyane Wade or Scottie Pippen.
“You look at LeBron and you have the best player in the world. He’s 29. I’m not saying he’s at the end of his career, but he’s in the second half of his career, let’s put it that way. And in the first half of his career, he was becoming a great player. He was a great talent becoming a great player. That takes time – just like if Wiggins or Bennett are going to be great, it’s not going to happen right now. They’re great talents. LeBron is a great player right now.”
source: usatoday.com By: Nick Schwartz
“You look at LeBron and you have the best player in the world. He’s 29. I’m not saying he’s at the end of his career, but he’s in the second half of his career, let’s put it that way. And in the first half of his career, he was becoming a great player. He was a great talent becoming a great player. That takes time – just like if Wiggins or Bennett are going to be great, it’s not going to happen right now. They’re great talents. LeBron is a great player right now.”
source: usatoday.com By: Nick Schwartz
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