Once the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Miami Heat forward LeBron James, the speculation about whether or not they would trade for Minnesota Timberwolves’ power forward Kevin Love began.
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James is in Cleveland to bring a title to the city and knows that acquiring Love gives them the best chance to do so. In fact, James is reportedly pushing the Cavaliers to make a deal. The Cavaliers are reportedly willing to include the number one pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, forward Anthony Bennett, the number overall pick of the 2014 draft, swingman Andrew Wiggins, and another pick to acquire Love. However, now that Wiggins has signed his rookie deal, he can’t be dealt for 30 days.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Timberwolves still like the Cavaliers’ offer best, but because they now have to wait 30 days to strike a deal and because Flip Saunders, the Timberwolves’ head coach and president of basketball operations, is a huge fan of Golden State Warriors’ guard Klay Thompson, the Cavaliers could miss out on Love.
Cavs FINALLY announce signing of Andrew Wiggins to FINALLY start 30-day clock before he can be legally traded to Wolves in a Kevin Love deal
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 24, 2014
ESPN sources say that, as things stand, Minnesota likes the Cavs' Wiggins-led offer better than anything else on the table for Kevin Love
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 24, 2014
But fact Cleveland now must wait 30 days before Wiggins can be legally dealt does put Cavs at risk for someone else trumping their offer
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 24, 2014
Only Cavs, of teams in Love hunt, can offer potential superstar in Wiggins' class. But Flip Saunders, as we know, is a big Klay Thompson fan
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 24, 2014
Love averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game last season while shooting 45.7% from the field, 37.6% from three and 82.1% from the charity stripe last season. Bennett averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 35.6% from the field, 24.5% from beyond the arc and 63.8% from the free throw line. Wiggins averaged 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for the Jayhawks last season while shooting 44.8% from the field, 34.1% from beyond the arc and 77.5% from the free throw line.