When was the last time you heard a team trade its No.1 overall pick? Whether they become busts or stars, NBA teams generally let top picks play and develop to find out if they can live up to their potential. When the report went out that that the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to deal two former No.1 overall picks, still on their rookie contracts, for a proven star in Kevin Love, you get the feeling that the team wants to win now rather than wait for the future.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports sheds some light on the details of the deal:
The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement in principle to send All-Star forward Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a protected 2015 first-round draft pick, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Cleveland is making the deal with Minnesota with a firm agreement Love will opt out of his contract in 2015 and re-sign with the Cavaliers on a five-year, $120 million-plus contract extension, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Looking closely at the details of the deal, you instantly get a sense of what each team desires. With LeBron James still in his prime and Kyrie Irving blossoming into a true star, the Cavaliers want to maximize perhaps the best chance that they have in winning a championship by adding as much proven talent as they can. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, want to to get the best value in return for Kevin Love who has made it known that he wants out.
But in comparison to other teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the Brooklyn Nets, who have an aging core or superstar, the Cavaliers trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, are still very much young in NBA standards which makes us wonder why the team is in a hurry to win. D.J. Foster from bleacher report has this to say:
There's a difference between Cleveland's version of "must win" and that of other teams. Technically, the Cavs aren't in much of a rush. LeBron is 29, Love is 25 and Irving is just 22. All are healthy now and have avoided any real health issues that could have a long-term impact. This isn't a core with a nearby expiration date.
Perhaps the reason why Cleveland wants to win right away is because their roster is too talented not too. Barring any injuries or health issues, a roster that features Kevin Love, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Dion Waiters should easily dominate the East and challenge the Spurs for the crown. The Cavaliers are therefore doing everything they can to maximize every year that they have with LeBron and win as much championships as they can now that Love is set to join the team.
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