As quickly as it is given, the Cavs are willing to give it away again. Rumor has it that in trying to get Kevin Love, the Cavs are offering the No. 1 picks from the last two years. Anthony Bennett has been a bust. It has only been one year, and he had weight issues and injuries to deal with. However, no one would have any heartache or lose any sleep if the Cavs traded the 21-year-old forward.
Andrew Wiggins is another story. Wiggins was the clear choice for the top pick in the 2014 draft from before the basketball season began. Some believe that Jabari Parker is more NBA ready and has a greater set of scoring skills, but aside from second guessing, Wiggins was penciled in at No. 1 for a long time.
Trading Wiggins, age 19, for Kevin Love is a ridiculous move. Wiggins is the future. He is a player whose name has been mentioned with other great draft picks, and he is 19. If LeBron decides to change his mind again and end his contract next season and Love has not signed an extension with the Cavs, Cleveland will have essentially wasted all of their draft picks and the last four years. To add insult to injury, they will also suck again. Big Time.
Love is a super player right now. The Cavs become NBA champion favorites if they grab Love. However, they throw away the possibility at a dynasty of Celtic proportions if they toss Wiggins to the Wolves. If Wiggins is the player that everyone believes him to be (and his Summer League play makes him out to be that player), he could replace LeBron’s starring role as LeBron hits his twilight years.
LeBron is 29 years old. That puts him in his basketball playing prime, which for most players, not named Tim Duncan, lasts until 32. After that it is a long downward slope of injuries and decreasing athleticism. LeBron is a smart player and a freak of nature. He may be able to play well through age 40. That’s only 11 years away. Wiggins will be in his prime when LeBron starts thinking of retirement.
Now, imagine the Cavs with Wiggins able to carry LeBron’s banner for an additional three years. Add to that Bennett developing into the player he should be, and you have a powerhouse team. Cleveland could threaten to be champions every year for the next 14 years. With the 25-year old Love, that long term prospect gets cut down to seven or eight years.
So should the Cavs take the win now and well into the future philosophy, knowing that LeBron could probably get them to the Finals without help, or should they just take the win now philosophy with the belief that Love and LeBron could get the team past the Spurs or whoever comes out of the West?