The long rumored three-way deal between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Philadelphia 76ers involving Kevin Love, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennet is now official. Lets break it all down for you.
Wiggins and Love on the Move: 3-way deal made official
Cleveland Cavaliers
Get: Kevin Love
Give: Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, a trade exemption, Miami’s 2015 first round pick (top 10 protected).
The Cavaliers pay a hefty price for Love, but considering the fact that the team already signed Lebron James this off-season, it may have been the move needed to go all in and try to bring home Cleveland’s first NBA Championship. In Lebron, Kyrie Irving, and Lebron James; the Cavs have formed a new big three, and it may even be better than the one Lebron left in Miami. Add to them a supporting cast including Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, Mike Miller and Shawn Marion and the Cavaliers are instantly the favorites to win the NBA Eastern Conference and compete for the Bill O’Brien Trophy.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Get: Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, a trade exemption, Thaddeus Young,
Give: Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved,
While it was tough for the Timberwolves to give up their franchise forward in Love, it was a move that had to be made given his contract situation; and the fact he made it clear that he would not re-sign with the team. In Wiggins, the Timberwolves get the most hyped NBA prospect since Lebron, and a player who will now carry the role as the team’s new franchise player. Wiggins becomes the first ever NBA first overall pick to not play a game for his team since the NBA/ABA merger. In Anthony Bennett, they get a player who is talented enough to also be a 1st overall pick (2013) but one who struggled to adjust to the NBA game in his first year in Cleveland. In Thaddeus Young, the T-Wolves get a 26-year-old who scored 17.9 points and picked up 6.0 rebounds per game for Philadelphia last year. He should start at powerforward with Bennett backing him up.
Philadelphia 76ers
Get: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved, Miami’s 2015 first round pick (top 10 protected),
Give: Thaddeus Young
The 76ers continue to rebuild. They continue to load up on draft picks in the deal. Don’t be surprised if Mbah a Moute or Shved is flipped down the road for even more picks. The 76ers are clearing going for a long-term, build via the draft strategy here.
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