Ot: the love/wiggins deal | Page 6 | Syracusefan.com

Ot: the love/wiggins deal

Somewhere along the line it seems it became acceptable to talk about Wiggins like he's a complete project. "Wasting Lebron's prime", "He might be a star in 3-4 years", etc.

Who says he needs to be a star for Cleveland to win? They have the biggest star in the game, and another potential star. He just needs to play well within his role. It's really difficult to win in year 1 of a team that hasn't gelled yet and where most of the key guys have never played in the playoffs. But who says they can't win a title with Wiggins playing a big role within the next 2-3 years? I don't see the rush. Minnesota wants a lot for Love. They probably aren't panicking and trading him before the season to anybody else. I think the Cavs should see what they have first. See how good Wiggins is right now, see if the big guys they have now are good enough to win with, on this particular team, see if Bennett is the player they thought they were drafting, etc. They might be good enough with what they have over the next few years.

Back to Wiggins...I think Carmelo and Durant may have set the bar too high to where any highly touted freshman who doesn't completely dominate gets written off a bit. Maybe he didn't meet the too high expectations, but he still averaged 17 and 6 on 45% shooting as a freshman, had a 41 point game, 30 in that Ok. State game, etc. It almost seems like he's getting underrated now.

I don't think anyone is saying Cleveland can't win a title with Wiggins instead of Love. They for sure can. But I think Love gives them a better opportunity than Wiggins. I think Love is a really good player, and the opportunity to get those kind of guys doesn't come around too often.

Wiggins may be getting underrated; I think the guy has the potential to be a very good player. But I wouldn't let him stop me from getting a player like Kevin Love. It's a real interesting debate; if Wiggins becomes a really good player in the next year or two, I could look pretty stupid.
 
having two smaller pieces gives flexibility because you're not tied to both of them. neither can be an albatross on the franchise like love *could* be with that contract (e.g., Amare). and they're hardly burdensome cap #s. my only point is that they should exercise patience. there's a reason both those guys were #1 overall picks. the cavs will 100% be a destination for free agents and sign/trade where guys will be willing to sign on. give it a couple months of seeing them practice/mesh. see what you've got. if bennett is crap, you can give him away to free up the money later. no big deal.
You realize contracts have been shortened to avoid albatrosses. Only 1 player per team can even get 5 years on a contract. No player is going to be an albatross and the Knicks signed Amare to a 5 year deal even knowing no insurance company would insure the deal and that is unheard of and shows how crazy the Knicks were. I highly doubt Love at 25 will become a terrible player short of double microfracture surgery.
Bennett/Wiggins don't give cap flexibility they only save Dan Gilbert luxury tax money until they become eligible for contract extensions. Love helps the Cavs for the next 5 years. Again if you want to be the Patriots fine keep Wiggins and you will be good for a while but winning a title will take a lot longer and Lebron will enter 40k minutes in the NBA during the first game next year.
 
I don't think anyone is saying Cleveland can't win a title with Wiggins instead of Love. They for sure can. But I think Love gives them a better opportunity than Wiggins. I think Love is a really good player, and the opportunity to get those kind of guys doesn't come around too often.

Wiggins may be getting underrated; I think the guy has the potential to be a very good player. But I wouldn't let him stop me from getting a player like Kevin Love. It's a real interesting debate; if Wiggins becomes a really good player in the next year or two, I could look pretty stupid.

It's a gamble, no doubt, but, to me, it's a no-brainer, a prudent calculated risk. Love's a 25-year-old scoring and rebounding stud, Wiggins a 19-year-old with scads of potential. Cavs go from a vastly improved, competitive, fun team to watch to a stone-cold contender, with a young, hopefully wiser Dion Waiters getting a golden opportunity to show his Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson, DWade offensive side.
 
Cavs sign Wiggins, which means there's no Love deal for at least 30 days, but this move also was necessary to set up a trade. My money's on the young man headed to Minny in 31 days, let the big ol', bad ol' countdown begin. http://tinyurl.com/k6oaya3

Really hope Dion isn't gonzo, too, once the deal goes down. Would love to see him running with LeBron, I think LBJ could be a great influence on Dion on and off the court. http://tinyurl.com/nlswdwl
 
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Somewhere along the line it seems it became acceptable to talk about Wiggins like he's a complete project. "Wasting Lebron's prime", "He might be a star in 3-4 years", etc.

Who says he needs to be a star for Cleveland to win? They have the biggest star in the game, and another potential star. He just needs to play well within his role. It's really difficult to win in year 1 of a team that hasn't gelled yet and where most of the key guys have never played in the playoffs. But who says they can't win a title with Wiggins playing a big role within the next 2-3 years? I don't see the rush. Minnesota wants a lot for Love. They probably aren't panicking and trading him before the season to anybody else. I think the Cavs should see what they have first. See how good Wiggins is right now, see if the big guys they have now are good enough to win with, on this particular team, see if Bennett is the player they thought they were drafting, etc. They might be good enough with what they have over the next few years.

Back to Wiggins...I think Carmelo and Durant may have set the bar too high to where any highly touted freshman who doesn't completely dominate gets written off a bit. Maybe he didn't meet the too high expectations, but he still averaged 17 and 6 on 45% shooting as a freshman, had a 41 point game, 30 in that Ok. State game, etc. It almost seems like he's getting underrated now.
He also had 19 rebounds in one game. And set the all time Kansas scoring record for a freshman.
 
Several things overlooked here.

1) Lebron has a 2 year contract to get the new max once the new TV money comes in. He's not leaving Cleveland, and even admitted in his letter he didn't expect to win this year.

2) Love's contract is expiring. Go look at previous trades for expiring superstars, Wiggins by far would be the most ridiculous fleecing a team has ever got for an expiring contract.

3) Wiggins played at Kansas, which just kills any semblance of individual skill. He was a cog. People put way too much weight into his performance (which even then was pretty damn good). The kids been getting hyped for years for a reason, his upside is freaking huge.

4) Wiggins/Bennett likely doesn't get it done. Thompson or Waiters would have to go. You're gutting the team.
 
Let Minnesota twist in the wind. They are the ones who need to get the trade made this year. Nobody needs to kiss their butt even though they are acting like people should.
 
If the Cavs are the only ones left, it gives them a little more leverage. The Twolves need to trade Love this year. They shouldn't be the ones dictating the terms.
 
If the Cavs are the only ones left, it gives them a little more leverage. The Twolves need to trade Love this year. They shouldn't be the ones dictating the terms.
Agree. Price goes down with each passing day and the Cav's have the pieces the TWolves covet. It's not like they need 3 months of practice with Love to be effective. He'll be plug and play.
Pundits now saying: Bennett, Wiggins and draft picks (which became a whole lot less valuable with Bron's return)
 
I'd love to hear Golden State's reasoning for not making a deal. Is it just about not trading Klay, who is about to become overpaid, or did Minny want Klay, Barnes and Lee? I'd give up Lee and Klay in a heartbeat to pair Love with Curry.
 
I'd love to hear Golden State's reasoning for not making a deal. Is it just about not trading Klay, who is about to become overpaid, or did Minny want Klay, Barnes and Lee? I'd give up Lee and Klay in a heartbeat to pair Love with Curry.
The wildcard is what Love wants. No one is going to give up major assets without a strong sense or commitment that they'll have Love for the longer term. By all accounts, Love wants Cleveland. Before Bron he loved the West Coast. Not sure he still does.
 
Yeah, I meant before Lebron switched when it seemed like Love was willing to sign there long-term. It looks like it's Cleveland or nothing now.
 
With everyone backing out, It would be stupid for Cleveland to offer up Wiggins. Minnesota has to trade him, and if nobody else wants to get in the ring, offer up Bennett a few #1s and maybe Tristan Thompson and have a ridiculous roster going forwards.
 
Cleveland has to trade for Love. Advanced Statistics say that hes a top 5 player in the league right now. Yeah hes never made the playoffs, but the west is loaded. The T-Wolves played a bunch of close games they lost last year. A motivated Love will put in better effort on defense.

This Wiggins crap is crazy. Last year everyone just thought he would dominate at Kansas. He was good, but not dominant. Count me in the not sold on Wiggins group. What if he turns into Ed O'bannon? Then Cleveland is really screwed. The guy is an elite athlete, but lacks elite basketball skill at this point of his career.
 
Timberwolves owner says he expects Kevin Love to be traded Aug. 23 or 24, which is when Wiggins can be traded...30 days after he signed with the Cavs.

This interview with ESPN couldn't be easy for the kid to sit through, I think he handled himself well, all things considered. http://tinyurl.com/mh8pnya
 
Timberwolves owner says he expects Kevin Love to be traded Aug. 23 or 24, which is when Wiggins can be traded...30 days after he signed with the Cavs.

This interview with ESPN couldn't be easy for the kid to sit through, I think he handled himself well, all things considered. http://tinyurl.com/mh8pnya


Yeah I watched that earlier, the questions were awful and it seemed like they were just trying to make him look bad.
 
Yeah I watched that earlier, the questions were awful and it seemed like they were just trying to make him look bad.
As a journalist, I think a question or two along those lines would've been fine, but the interviewer went on ad nauseum.
 

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