Kevin Love will be playing in Cleveland next season, if Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski is to be believed.
So for those keeping score at home, this means the Cavs now have LeBron, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
Here’s what we know so far:
1. Andrew Wiggins Is Going to Minnesota in Exchange
The Yahoo Sports story says that in exchange for Love, the Cavs are sending Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett to Minnesota. The Timberwolves will also get a protected 2015 first-round pick in the deal.
Strange But True: Cavaliers have had the No. 1 overall pick 3 of last 4 years.
Only one – Kyrie Irving – is still with the franchise.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 7, 2014
2. The Deal Can’t Go Through Until August 23
(Getty)
The deal won’t go through until August 23 because Wiggins, as the No.1 draft pick, cannot be traded until one month has passed since the signing of his rookie contract. Wolves owner Glen Taylor had told The St. Paul Pioneer Press that Kevin Love “made it pretty clear [the trade is] what he wants to do.”
3. You Can Still Get Odds of 4/1 for the Cavs to Win the Championship
(Getty)
This move will solidify the Cavs position as favorites to win the NBA Championship in 2015. Right now, you can get them at odds of 4/1 at Ladbrokes.
4. The Cavs Could Be Weak in Defense
With Kevin Love suspect on the defensive side of his game, the Washington Post’s Thomas Johnson wrote about the frailties in the Cavs D. Thomas Johnson of the Post wrote:
Love is a strong on-ball defender and allowed 0.721 points per possession in post-up situations, according to Synergy Sports data. But when it comes to helping on pick-and-rolls, or quickly covering teammates at the basket, he lacks the athleticism and effort to be an inside presence.
The article goes on to say that in 2013/14, Love allowed 9.1 rim attempts, the 11th highest in the NBA. The piece damningly states:
Sure, Love grabs a ton of rebounds, but mediocre doesn’t begin to describe Love’s help defense.
5. Love May Not Be the Only Player Leaving Minnesota
Alexy Shved doing what he does. (Getty)
The Yahoo Sports article that broke the Love trade story, also says that the Timberwolves are still trying to unload the contracts of, J.J. Barea, Luc Mbah a Moute and Alexey Shved.
