There are good arguments in both directions. It'll be one of the most interesting decisions in recent years, IMO.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers have discussed a blockbuster trade centered around Kevin Love and the league's last two No. 1 draft picks, league sources told ESPN. In an attempt to add Love, a three-time All-Star, the Cavaliers are willing to part with Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, the top picks in the past two drafts. One source said the Cavs are also willing to give up a first-round draft pick for next season. Any other players involved in the talks are not known. ESPN.com Talked about this yesterday, but here it is again
And Cleveland would STILL have to add in about 6 million more to get it done, which means Thompson and someone. So would be Wiggins, Thompson, and Bennet, I believe.
Probasketballdraft @Probballdraft Not to burst Cavs fans bubble but if Warriors are willing to include Thompson that trumps Cavs. Wolves prefer Klay bc more ready per source.
lol . . . rest of article: Klay Thompson is more ready? Ready to do what? Help Minnesota win 40 games again? The Timberwolves finished 10th in the West last season with Love. Regardless of whether they trade the top-10 player for Thompson or Wiggins, they’re taking a step back. Flip Saunders isn’t that good of a coach, and the rest of the roster didn’t change much. The West is too strong, anyway. Minnesota is better off rebuilding in earnest with Wiggins and letting the conference’s top teams cool off. Even if the Timberwolves were somewhat positioned to win now – they’re not – the intense intra-conference competition should push them in the direction of a longer-term process. I hope Saunders is just trying to leverage the Warriors’ unwillingness to deal Thompson for Love into squeezing out every last possible asset from Cleveland in a Love-Wiggins trade. Wiggins plus salary filler to make the trade work under CBA rules is enough, but I don’t begrudge Saunders for trying to get more. He has Love, and therefore, he has some leverage. But if he truly prefers Thompson to Wiggins, Saunders is more unqualified to run the Timberwolves than we ever imagined. http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....-kevin-love-trade/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
If I am the pups, I jump all over any deal Wiggins is in over anything the Warriors are offering. If you are trading a star......super star maybe, then you can't take "nice" players back. you need to take a player who at least has the chance of being special, and that is Wiggins. If it doesn't work out you will still win as many titles as you would have with Thompson.
Extend-and-trade is still an option, but not to the extent as in the old CBA when Carmelo got traded to NY. Link
I agree. Plus Thompson will not be happy there. Wiggins is a rookie and doesn't know any better. Much easier to make him the face of the franchise
The Clippers used to get a very high pick every year. They threw some away, because there'll always be more. The lucky Cavs get the #1 pick 2 out of every 3 years. Wiggins seems so rare, but he's expendable. They have 2 out of the next 3 #1s already in the bag.
Not with LeBron there. If Jordan would've gone to the Clippers in, say, 1990, they would've have had a chance for KG.
Yep. Love is leaving Minny for good. If you can get a 5 year guaranteed superstar possible player, and great youth to go with it, you better do it immediately Go Blazers!
Even though Aldridge for Wiggins is never gonna happen, I would do it if it were up to me. I have always liked Aldridge, but I dont think he is the difference maker, he has taken over games occassionally, but its usually only because he was on fire and it just happened. Wigging could be special and Aldridge is replaceable with a combo of TRob and a trade piece.