Kevin Love Trade is Official, Power Forward Joins LeBron James
The trade is final. Kevin Love has officially left the Minnesota Timberwolves and joined the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Love was part of three-team deal between the Timberwolves, Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The deal was consummated on Saturday after being discussed for months and put on hold 30 days.
Love now officially joins LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to form the newest Big Three in the NBA and possibly an NBA champion.
Minnesota in the deal received Andrew Wiggins the overall No. 1 pick in the recent NBA Draft, former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett from the Cavaliers, Thaddeus Young a veteran forward from the 76ers and a trade exception of $6.3 million.
Philadelphia received a first round draft pick for 2015, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute a forward and Alexey Shved a guard from Minnesota.
It has been 50 years since the city of Cleveland has won a championship in a major sport, but the city and the team is poised to make it happen.
The trade between the Timberwolves and Cavaliers has been discussed between the clubs for months and in the media for the same time.
Love made it very clear without coming out and saying it that he was not interested in returning to Minnesota after the upcoming season and would us an opt out clause in his contract to become a free agent.
Once James left the Miami Heat and signed with the Cavaliers, speculation started about who would join him Carmelo Antony, Pau Gasol or Love.
When asked about Love, James said he could not wait until the Cavaliers signed the power forward. He said he was not concerned with Love’s averages of 26 points and 12 rebounds per game. He wants Love’s basketball IQ. He said he Love’s basketball IQ is way up there and he will make a great piece to add to the team.
In Minnesota, the Timberwolves have a big base to build from. Wiggins will be a star from the beginning, while Bennett could flourish playing with Wiggins and Ricky Rubio. Thaddeus Young will give the Timberwolves some more experience and fill the hole Love’s departure made in the paint.
Love will wear the No. 0 for Cleveland and will make James even a better player if that is possible. Of course, having James on the court is going to help Love play better as well.
Flip Saunders the president and head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves can now get down business and preparing his team for this fall’s start of the NBA season minus Love.
The Timberwolves likely will not contend for the Northwest Division during the upcoming season, but with Wiggins and Bennett they have the last two No. 1 overall picks in the NBA and that is as good a base as you can hope for to build a champion around.
