How This Trade Impacts Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have to start winning some basketball games. They have an intriguing young core, and it is about time they start elevating that group with some veterans to push this rebuild to the next level.
There is zero use for Kevin Love in Cleveland. If they can move on from him and do it with Collin Sexton and some protected draft picks, they most certainly should do it.
Cleveland used the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft on USC center Evan Mobley. They signed center Jarrett Allen to a five-year, $100 million contract.
Larry Nance Jr. was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal that included the Chicago Bulls, who sent Lauri Markkanen to the Cavaliers. It was a sign-and-trade with Markkanen, who received a four-year, $67 million deal.
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With three more than capable big men who are the future for the Cavaliers, Love has no spot in the rotation. Flipping him and Sexton for a player in Andrew Wiggins, who would help balance things out, would be a good decision.
Wiggins could slide right into the starting small forward spot, giving Cleveland the desperately needed two-way player. He showed great improvement with the Warriors last season, and if he continues on that path, the Cavaliers are getting a solid player.
Joining Wiggins is Jordan Poole, a first-round pick from 2019. He also made strides as a sophomore, looking like someone who can be a rotational guard for sure. The former Michigan product could slide right into a backup guard spot alongside Ricky Rubio.
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Surrendering draft compensation when you are a rebuilding team is never an easy thing to do, but in this case, it would be worthwhile. Golden State would be taking on a lot of money, as Sexton is also due an extension. They were going to have to attach draft compensation with Love to move him, but getting a player as useful as Wiggins back makes it a little easier to stomach.
