Cleveland Cavaliers: Reviewing the infamous 2014 Kevin Love trade

3 of 4

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 08: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves passes the ball away from Jae Crowder #99 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game on January 8, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Fleecing the Wolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves received 2014 No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins and 2013 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett along with forward Thaddeus Young, as well as a trade exception.

Wiggins showed a lot of promise coming out of Kansas. His can’t-miss athleticism combined with a high motor made him one of the most exciting prospects in years. Wiggins also said he wanted to grow significantly as a defender during his first year in the league.

Wiggins, in his first year of Minnesota, showed the potential that made him such a highly-touted prospect, averaging nearly 17 points a night and close to 5 boards. Wiggins would take another step the following year, boosting his scoring average up to close to 21 points per game and in his third year 23.6 points per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers /

Cleveland Cavaliers

Last year, Wiggins numbers dropped to 17.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Additionally, throughout the first few years of his career, he averaged around two assists a contest.

Wiggins’ scoring numbers aren’t his problem. Even with his average dropping last year, that can be attributed to the revamped roster featuring Jimmy Butler.

Wiggins efficiency has never developed that way many had hoped. In the past two years, Wiggins has regressed in terms of his shooting. He has also yet to develop a consistent three-pointer (career 33%) which is imperative in today’s spread-the-floor style of play.

Defensively, Wiggins has not lived up to the standards he set for himself. Per FiveThirtyEight, In 2016-2017, players shot a similar percentage when guarded by Wiggins (eFG% 56.1) as they did when unguarded (eFG 56.4%).

His stunted development both offensively and defensively have rendered Wiggins as nothing more than a solid scoring small forward, not the elite superstar he was billed as.

As for Anthony Bennett, another former No. 1 overall pick, coming off a very disappointing rookie year, Bennett did little to change perception. Bennett would appear 57 games with Minnesota, only playing a little over 15 minutes, scoring 5.2 points a game while shooting 42%.

After being released following his lone season in Minnesota, Bennett bounced around with stints in Brooklyn and Toronto and to the G League.

Thaddeus Young spent 48 games with the Wolves, averaging a solid 14.3 points and 5.1 boards a contest before being traded to Brooklyn for Kevin Garnett.