Why Love’s Trade to Cleveland Created Best Starting Lineup in the NBA…

The Minnesota Timberwolves traded All-Star forward Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers for 2014 number one overall pick Andrew Wiggins, 2013 number one overall pick Anthony Bennett and a protected 2015 first round pick from Cleveland. The trade will be finalized on August 23rd since draft picks can’t be traded 30 days after signing a new contract. On July 24th, Wiggins signed his rookie deal with Cleveland. Love has the decision to opt out of his current contract and become a free agent in July 2015. Sources say the Cavs hope to re-sign Love next for five years for $120 million plus next summer.

Once this trade is finalized, the Cavs may have the best starting lineup in the NBA and have a legitimate chance of making it to the NBA Finals. In my opinion, Love is the best power forward in the league and doesn’t have many flaws in his game. Love averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, shot 45.7% from the field, 37.6% from downtown and made 82.1% of his free throws. Love can shoot well from all areas of the floor, one of the best rebounders in the league and can pass well for a big man. Love isn’t known for his defense, is slower than most power forwards and for his height doesn’t block many shots.

The Wolves may get a future All-Star in Wiggins and Love definitely will be difficult to replace. The Wolves have one of the best passers in the league in point guard Ricky Rubio, shooting guard Kevin Martin averaged 19.1 points last season and Nikola Pekovic who is turning into one of the best centers in the league. The Wolves will have more cap space by trading Love and Bennett should be able to receive more playing time and hopefully live up to his expectation as the number one overall pick last season.

LeBron James will return to Cleveland this time with more help than he ever received while playing there the first time. If James can lead Cleveland to a NBA championship, in my opinion he would need two stars or more to win a championship. The Cavs didn’t provide LeBron with much help his first time there and that was part of the reason he went to the Miami Heat to form the Big Three. Now, James has a new Big Three in Cleveland. This Big Three is younger and has no playoff experience. Love and Cavs All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving have a history of battling injuries throughout their careers. James will most likely attract more free agents before the season starts. The Cavs will have the bull’s eye on their back and expectations will be very high for them.

Photo Credits: TheDissNBA.com, DailyZone.com, ChicagoNow.com