In August of 2014, after reuniting superstar talent Lebron James with the Cavaliers, General Manager David Griffin orchestrated a blockbuster trade with the Minnesota TImberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers trading the 2013 first pick Anthony Bennett and the 2014 first pick Andrew Wiggins to the Timberwolves for All-Star Kevin Love. On paper, this would be an immediate win for the Cleveland Cavaliers and immediately boost their roster for this season and increase their chances of winning the 2014-2015 NBA Championship. In Minnesota, Kevin Love was a nightly double-double machine, stretched the floor, and provided the Timberwolves with a post presence and accurate outlet passing that very few players possessed. Many Timberwolves fans didn't understand why management would trade Love to the ,already seemingly stacked, Cavaliers while “only” receiving Andrew Wiggins in return. It was a widely regarded notion that Cleveland won this trade and would now have the highest odds to come out of the Eastern Conference. However, this doesn't seem like the case seven months later.
Andrew Wiggins is on his way to winning the Rookie of the Year Award and there isn’t much competition. His only competitor in winning the award would be 24 year-old forward for the Chicago Bulls Nikola Mirotic. He is taking advantage of his opportunities in Chicago with the plethora of injuries to Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, and Derrick Rose. Mirotic is receiving minutes and is making the most out of them. However, Andrew Wiggins is still projected to run away with the Rookie of the Year Award. At 19 years-old, Wiggins is averaging 15.7 ppg, 1.9 apg, 4.3 rpg, 1.1 steals on 44% shooting in almost 35 minutes per game. Wiggins already made history being the second player to be drafted as the number one pick, only to be traded afterwards without playing a single game for the team he was originally drafted for.Now, actually playing in the NBA, Andrew Wiggins has a chance to become just the third player to begin the season under 20 years of age and average at least 15 ppg, 4 rpg, and 1 spg at a usage rate higher than 20 percent. The only other two players are: Best Basketball Player in the World Lebron James and New York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony; so Wiggins is already in good company in the start of his career. Also, Andrew Wiggins has defensive potential through the roof; never fearing the challenge of guarding the top shooting guards in the league.
On the other hand, Kevin Love has struggled on a nightly basis to prove he can be a consistent third option to Kyrie Irving and Lebron James. Although Cleveland has worked their way up to the second seed in a struggling Eastern Conference, Kevin Love has been a non-factor in many Cavalier games as Lebron and Kyrie show why they are superstars in this league. Although the Former Timberwolf is averaging 17.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, and 2.3 apg, this hasn't been a very Kevin Love type season that we are seeing. Also, Love is a free agent come this offseason and if the Cavaliers don’t win a championship this year, Kevin might take his talents elsewhere. Even possibly the Los Angeles Lakers who have a ton of cap space and can sign at least two marquee free agents. With the Timberwolves, Andrew Wiggins is on a rookie deal so would at least stay in Minnesota until they decide whether or not to pick up his option or to trade him. Not picking up his option and trading him are both unlikely as Wiggins is a future superstar in the making so in the end, the Timberwolves won this deal; especially if Kevin Love doesn’t re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers come the 2015 offseason. Kevin Love is the player he is going to be, Andrew Wiggins hasn't even scratched the surface of the star he is bound to develop into.
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