Cavs Trade Pitch: Kevin Love for Andrew Wiggins is a bad move

Another NBA trade pitch was made recently, this time surrounding a former Cavs player in Andrew Wiggins and a current one in Kevin Love

NBC Sports Chase Hughes has an idea that many Cavs fans should want to avoid like, well, the current plague. Hughes is pitching that the Cleveland Cavaliers send Kevin Love to Golden State in return for Andrew Wiggins. Yes, six years later and he wants to undo the first trade where the Cavs sent Wiggins to Minnesota in exchange for Love.

Hughes cites Love’s ability to rebound and score as a perfect fit for Golden State, and he’s not wrong. Golden State wins the trade hands down by getting a great rebounder who can score to play alongside the best guard combo in the league (if healthy).

For the Cavs, the reasoning isn’t great, however;

"The Cavs are light at the wing position and could use another athlete to run the fastbreak with their two recently drafted guards – Darius Garland and Collin Sexton. While Cleveland wouldn’t get the first-round pick they might covet in a Love deal, they would get younger with Wiggins, who is still only 25 and not yet in his prime."

Love is the less-expensive option, he’s the better scoring option, and he’s the better rebounding option. Yes, Love just turned 32 but he’s never been known as an overly athletic player and has proven he’s best when given floor spacing to shoot. Andrew Wiggins is all athleticism and one of the least efficient scorers in the NBA. Plus his defense is awful. There’s no upgrade for the Cavs.

Especially not when the team has Obi Toppin or Deni Avdija, two incredible prospects waiting for them in the draft, who just so happen to play a forward position.

The move does nothing but burdens the Cavs with a player who’s never lived up to his expectation, nor has shown any real proof that he could. Hughes claims Wiggins hasn’t hit his peak but, he has. This is who Wiggins is. He’s not someone you can win with. He’s a $13-15 million a year guy, and his near $33 million contract makes it nearly impossible to build around him. Considering Collin Sexton will need an extension soon, the last thing the Cavs should be doing is committing even more money to even less efficient players.

Either find an expiring deal or use Love to help the rebuild. Trading him for problematic pieces isn’t the answer.