Would the Cavs have been better off with Wiggins instead of Love?

[CelticsElite]

I think so. Hear me out:

Wiggins: 23.6 pts 4.0  rb 2.3 as.
Salary $6 mill this year, $7 mill next year

Kevin Love: 19 pts 11 rb  1.9 as
Salary: $21.1 mil this year, $22.6 mill next year

Wiggins puts up more Pts and more assists but clearly less rebounds. But With the salary savings having Wiggins, you can afford another nice piece like George, Hayward, wade, whatever you want. Plus Wiggins learns behind the best SF ever so his production might increase and your dynasty would extend a decade longer.

[mr. dee]

They had to trade for Love or else LeGM won't sign in Cleveland.

[KGs Knee]

Well, they likely would not have won the title last season.

Wiggins also plays little defense, and is mostly a volume scorer right now.   I doubt he would be efficient enough, and capable of contributing in other ways besides scoring to have a bigger impact than Love.

With the amount of money the Cavs are paying Tristan Thompson, the the cap savings wouldn't matter enough to allow them to have pursued anyone of notable impact.

[celticsclay]

Yes definitely. I saw this as someone that doesn't even think Wiggins is that good. If Lebron had not been made GM they are saving 15 million a year with Wiggins over Love, Jr Smith isn't get paid 14 million a season and Tristan Thompson isn't getting paid 16 million a year. In that world the Cavs are actually approaching some cap space to fill out their bench.

[gouki88]

I think so. Hear me out:

Wiggins: 23.6 pts 4.0  rb 2.3 as.
Salary $6 mill this year, $7 mill next year

Kevin Love: 19 pts 11 rb  1.9 as
Salary: $21.1 mil this year, $22.6 mill next year

Wiggins puts up more Pts and more assists but clearly less rebounds. But With the salary savings having Wiggins, you can afford another nice piece like George, Hayward, wade, whatever you want. Plus Wiggins learns behind the best SF ever so his production might increase and your dynasty would extend a decade longer.

But I don't think so, Love's rebounding, especially on the offensive end, and his underrated defence (in the playoffs) is probably more valuable, especially when considering what LeBron wants.

However, if we disregard LeBron's attitude towards it all, the flexibility that Wiggins would have enabled would tip him over the edge. Yet we can't do that, as LeBron is effectively half-GM anyway.

[MaxAMillion]

They won a title so that is all that matters. When u haven't won anything in 50 years, the title trumps all. The Cubs will regret the Castro trade. The Chapman trade will hurt them for years as they gave the Yankees a great prospect. But in the end they won a title for the first time in 100 years so nothing else matters.

There was nothing Cleveland could do to beat GS this year. Durant was added to a 73 win team. They were always going to win the title. They will win it next year as well. I hate the way sports is moving to the same teams winning year after year, but there is not much you can do about it. I didn't watch the finals (can't stomach Draymond Green) so I avoided the aggravation
.

[Moranis]

The Cavs would not have won the title in any of the last 3 seasons with Wiggins instead of Love, and I don't think Wiggins instead of Love will make a difference between winning and not winning a title next year either.  So no, the Cavs would not be better off with Wiggins instead of Love.

[MBunge]

They probably wouldn't have won last year with Wiggins over Love but then again, they probably wouldn't have won last year without Draymond's suspension, Bogut's injury and a massive choke job by the Warriors.

Would they be in better shape right now and going forward?  Almost certainly.

Mike

[Ilikesports17]

Hard to tell if Wiggins would actually try on defense in Cleveland.

[celticsclay]

They would have had more wiggle room on salaries with Wiggins over Love the last few years. Probably gets gassed less also. Guessing Love is gone this offseason.

[Donoghus]

Going forward?  Probably.

Would they have won a title?  Very doubtful

[footey]

Not to mention how many more championships Land would have won if only they held onto Anthony Bennett as well, LOL.

Has a former No.1 pick ever lost more trade value sooner than him, barring injury??

Hard to think of anyone else.

[Moranis]

They would have had more wiggle room on salaries with Wiggins over Love the last few years. Probably gets gassed less also. Guessing Love is gone this offseason.

they would still be way over the cap unless they didn't go all in that first season (i.e. when they acquired Smith, Shumpert, and Mozgov).  Of course they might have just re-signed Delly in that situation. 

[max215]

I find it very weird that Love is ALWAYS the scapegoat for the Cavs. He was fantastic this season, including in the Playoffs and Finals.

[CelticSince83]

I think so. Hear me out:

Wiggins: 23.6 pts 4.0  rb 2.3 as.
Salary $6 mill this year, $7 mill next year

Kevin Love: 19 pts 11 rb  1.9 as
Salary: $21.1 mil this year, $22.6 mill next year

Wiggins puts up more Pts and more assists but clearly less rebounds. But With the salary savings having Wiggins, you can afford another nice piece like George, Hayward, wade, whatever you want. Plus Wiggins learns behind the best SF ever so his production might increase and your dynasty would extend a decade longer.

It's really not fair to compare counting stats of Wiggins (plays for a bottom feeder) vs. Love (plays in the NBA finals).  Love was dropping like 26-13-3 in Sota.  Highly doubt Wiggins goes from playing with Rubio in MN to Kyrie in CLE and doesn't see a huge decline in his numbers.  Love is a far better rebounder, passer and floor spacer also.