Andrew Wiggins back to the team that drafted him?
A deal that is almost so perfect, it is a surprise it hasn’t happened yet. The Warriors finally get the player they have coveted for years. The Cleveland Cavaliers re-land a player they drafted No. 1 overall in 2014. It would be a long road back to Cleveland for Andrew Wiggins.
Having been the centerpiece of a trade that would bring Kevin Love to Cleveland, he would now be used to get Love out of Cleveland. There are few better fits in the entire NBA than Kevin Love going to play in Golden State. In the 2014 NBA offseason, the Warriors were ready to make a deal that would land Kevin Love in Golden State.
The framework of the deal included Klay Thompson, former All-Star David Lee, and a 1st round pick that would later become Harrison Barnes. The trade was ready to be completed, however at the very last minute, Jerry West stepped in and nixed the deal, feeling that Klay Thompson was going to be a special player in this league. The Logo was right.
The deal never went through, Love went to the Cavaliers and won a championship and Thompson remained with the Warriors and got himself three rings in the process. Now it may be about time for the trade to be made and for Love to join the team that wanted him so badly in 2014.
With Kevin Love on the Warriors, they have the ideal big man duo that they have sought after for so long. With Draymond Green and Kevin Love, the Warriors have an ideal inside-outside threat. Not only that they would also have two of the best big men passers in the NBA on one team.
On a team that preaches ball movement, having two forwards who can fire the ball around the court to open shooters, namely Steph Curry and Klay Thompson would be a match made in heaven. Not to mention the Warriors would be getting a player who for his entire career has been a monster on the boards.
With Love, you also get an ability to shoot consistently from the 3-point line shooting 37.4 percent from deep this past season. This trade also allows the Warriors to hold onto their second overall pick and continue to improve the roster while not handing over any major assets long term.
The Warriors could draft someone like LaMelo Ball second overall. LaMelo’s size at 6-foot-8, his ability to shoot the ball, and his playmaking abilities would be a match made in heaven also for the Warriors. LaMelo could easily play 1 through 3 now and when he gets his NBA body has an ability to play sometimes as a 4.
Right now Ball would probably play shooting guard for the Warriors and Klay Thompson at the small forward spot:
- C Kevin Love
- PF Draymond Green
- SF Klay Thompson
- SG LaMelo Ball
- PG Steph Curry
Four 3-point shooters on the floor, five capable playmakers on the floor, three above-average rebounders, and four champions in a starting lineup. A potentially ruthless starting 5 that is incredibly well rounded and ready to compete for a championship once again. Andrew Wiggins to the Cavaliers addresses one of the team’s biggest needs, a scoring small forward.
Yes, they have Cedi Osman and Kevin Porter Jr. but Wiggins is a far superior player and would allow for the Cavaliers to add a scoring punch to the starting line-up. The Cavaliers with the fifth overall pick could replace Kevin Love right away with power forward Obi Toppin.
A surging prospect in this year’s draft, Toppin is a well-rounded prospect with fantastic athleticism. With Andre Drummond on the roster for the Cavaliers next season, Toppin would be able to space the floor like Love and allow Drummond to grab all the rebounds.
C Andre Drummond
PF Obi Toppin
SF Andrew Wiggins
SG Colin Sexton
PG Darius Garland
At 32 years of age and with multiple injuries and ailments over the last number of years, this would be a good opportunity for the Cavaliers to get there hands on their former first-round draft pick who at just 25 years of age, still has time to improve and become an All-Star caliber player.
Both teams improve via this trade. The Cavaliers get younger and Wiggins fits in perfectly with the other player’s timelines. The Warriors get a veteran who can shoot, pass, rebound, and has championship experience. All in all, a perfect trade for both sides.