Kevin Love rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves can't afford to pass on Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett

Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward LeBron James has reportedly made it clear he wants Minnesota Timberwolves’ power forward to be his teammate next season.

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According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, the Cavaliers are willing to trade the number one overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, swingman Andrew Wiggins, but they will also part with the number one pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, Anthony Bennett and possibly a first round pick next season (of course there have been contradictory reports).

Long-time NBA head coach George Karl, the 2012-2013 Coach of the Year with the Denver Nuggets (who was fired after winning the award), believes the Timberwolves can’t afford to pass on a deal that would net them both Wiggins and Bennett. Karl is familiar with the situation – he went through the same thing with forward Carmelo Anthony who was ultimately traded to the New York Knicks.

The Timberwolves reportedly covet Golden State Warriors’ guard Klay Thompson, but landing the last two number one picks for a player that will simply walk when the season ends if he doesn’t traded does seem like too much to pass on.

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. Wiggins was ranked as the top prospect in the draft by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express .

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Kevin Love rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves can’t afford to pass on Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett

By Andrew Melnick | Jul 20, 2014