Why is it that wanting to see the #1 pick play on our team with Lebron is crazy? What if some of us think Wiggins is our long term 3 and Lebron is our long term 4? Kid has huge potential, and is there any better mentor to get him there?
Nothing wrong with wanting to see them play together -- could be fun to watch. I think the problem is that Wiggins' timeline for coming close to reaching his potential - assuming he does -- puts him at a point where LBJ's game will be declining, perhaps noticeably. LBJ already has played more minutes than anyone his age in NBA history. We're in completely uncharted territory in terms of LBJ's trajectory going forward.
And the other part is Wiggins reaching that potential. Wiggins is a physical freak with a nice but predictable spin move, a decent shot, and a lot of potential defensively. But he is lacking a lot of offensive skills, and for those who point at his age and say "well, that's to be expected", Jabari Parker somehow managed to develop much better offensive skills while being even
younger. That makes it natural to wonder why didn't/couldn't Wiggins have developed his offensive skills like Parker developed his. That's not to say I'd rather have Parker, but it is to point out that there is a legitimate basis to challenge the assumption that Wiggins will actually reach that offensive potential some see for him. That may turn out to be a pipe dream.
I think some Wiggins' fans have slipped, perhaps unintentionally, into thinking of him as the natural replacement for LBJ in terms of being able to carry a team. I think that's really stretching it, because one thing I haven't seen
at all from Wiggins is court vision/basketball I.Q.. As much of a physical freak as LBJ was coming out of high school, his ability to see the floor and understand the game as a
high school kid was absolutely remarkable. That ability not only helps him see/create offensive opportunities for himself, but to see/create offensive opportunities for teammates as well. And it's that skill that really gives him the incredible ability to carry a team. Wiggins has shows no sign, at all, of having that kind of court vision/b-ball I.Q. Can he
potentially develop that? Sure, but that's no more likely than any random schmuck who was just drafted developing it.
If Wiggins is in the trade, the Cavs are only bidding against themselves.
Well, people said the same thing about the Lakers and Pau, and he ended up walking with them getting nothing out of it. Minny doesn't have to trade him right now, no matter what some think may be the wisest course for them. They have to consider the fan dynamic on their end, and trading Love now for less than they expected to receive may simply be something they are unwilling to do as a franchise.
This isn't a no-reserve auction where the player must be traded to the highest bidder right now. Love is more valuable to the Cavs right now than he would be as a late-season addition to the team at the deadline. No training camp, little time to work out the kinks with his new teammates, little time for the coach to figure out rotations and how we may have to change our defense, etc..
