IF we get Wiggins...

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

How fun could this team be to watch defensively!? After watching Wiggins in summer league, I came to two (obvious) conclusions:

1) He has a ways to go offensively, but the potential is there.

2) His defensive ceiling is player of the year, and easily all NBA defensive first team.

Wiggins (after physically maturing and putting some work in in the weight room) along with Dieng and Rubio, are three amazing building blocks to what potentially could be a DOMINANT defensive team. And remember Rubio and Dieng are still improving physically as well.

When you look back at last season, a lot of our best games came when Rubio and Brewer were killing it defensively. Both getting a lot of steals. And while steals are great, a great defensive team still needs rim protection (Dieng) and a guy who can lock down another team's best player (Wiggins). We might be on the verge of having all of it. Exciting. This is the brand of basketball I want to watch.

And as far as whether we will actually acquire Wiggins, I think it's AT LEAST 80% we will. While a lot of Cleveland fans are underestimating how good K-Love is, Lebron James is not. He was smart enough to jump ship to Miami to play with (a healthy) D-Wade and Bosh, and he's smart enough to know he needs Kevin Love right now. Lebron, Love and Kyrie? Jesus, those three could be the best threesome to play together ever.

So why is the deal not done? Because Cleveland is smart enough to know we want Wiggins, and thus whenever they finally relent and include him, they want to feel like they have leverage as far as to who else is included in the trade, because they are giving him up. This is where the real negotiating will begin (or continue if it already has). But at the end of the day a deal will get done because it makes too much sense for both teams, and Lebron wants to win now.

So to sum up, I look forward to chanting "DE-FENSE, DE-FENSE" in a close game and actually believing we will get a stop.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I personally find offense to be more fun to watch myself. Whats ironic that the perfect player to put into a Rubio-Wiggins-Dieng lineup would be Kevin Love

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

You didn't even mention LaVine, who I think can be taught how to be an even better defender than he is right now. Mitchell needs to work with him on sinking further into his defensive stance, creating better leverage which will allow him to not get bullied, plus it'll likely make his lateral quickness even better. Gifted athlete and seems to be a willing defender, just needs some polish. Rubio-LaVine-Wiggins-???-Dieng is (would be) the future, and one most fans could really get behind.

PS: I don't think Thompson or Bennett are going to be building blocks. Thompson is who I prefer, and likely Flip as well, but I see Cleveland being set on keeping him. It'd be nice if somehow Bennett became a beast, though. Would save us a draft pick that I think we'll have to spend on a power forward.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm not trying to be different, nor pull for the guy that's already a Wolf, but does anybody else see LaVine potentially being "the man" and Wiggins as a fantastic No. 2 to him if both reach their potential? For me, what sets the two apart is mentality, handle, court vision and jumpshot. I feel like LaVine is better in all four of those aspects. Obviously all that is thrown out the window if Wiggins reaches his potential and LaVine doesn't. I was just saying..

[Phenom]

I'm not trying to be different, nor pull for the guy that's already a Wolf, but does anybody else see LaVine potentially being "the man" and Wiggins as a fantastic No. 2 to him if both reach their potential? For me, what sets the two apart is mentality, handle, court vision and jumpshot. I feel like LaVine is better in all four of those aspects. Obviously all that is thrown out the window if Wiggins reaches his potential and LaVine doesn't. I was just saying..

Honestly, this crossed my mind as well. Im extremely pumped about LaVine. He looks the part of a star guard to me. I dont want to get carried away but in his highlights, he looks like a certain world class 2 guard who tore his achilles. As for defense, having Wiggins, Zach, Ricky and Dieng gives me hope of competing a little sooner than they should while being so young becuase they could potentially be a very good defensive unit.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Do you guys see Lavine's long-term position as a 1 or 2? Watching him play makes me think he is a PG long-term which brings up the debate as to who you keep as the PG long-term. Lavine is already a better shooter and athlete than Ricky and Ricky is a better passer and 1 on 1 defender. It's an interesting argument for sure. I think you give Lavine 2-3 years as a backup combo guard and potential starter at the 2 and go from there, but I'm not sure how good he'll be off the ball which doesn't fit with Ricky who can't really play off the ball either. Time will tell.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm not trying to be different, nor pull for the guy that's already a Wolf, but does anybody else see LaVine potentially being "the man" and Wiggins as a fantastic No. 2 to him if both reach their potential? For me, what sets the two apart is mentality, handle, court vision and jumpshot. I feel like LaVine is better in all four of those aspects. Obviously all that is thrown out the window if Wiggins reaches his potential and LaVine doesn't. I was just saying..

Honestly, this crossed my mind as well. Im extremely pumped about LaVine. He looks the part of a star guard to me. I dont want to get carried away but in his highlights, he looks like a certain world class 2 guard who tore his achilles. As for defense, having Wiggins, Zach, Ricky and Dieng gives me hope of competing a little sooner than they should while being so young becuase they could potentially be a very good defensive unit.

I agree with the take that LaVine has a higher upside. However, I also think he has a lower floor. Wiggins has a high floor and a decent ceiling, but I think it's very remote that he becomes an elite superstar. It's pretty remote for LaVine too, but I think he has the better chance of the two.

Defensively, LaVine and Wiggins will get out-muscled by a lot of the more physically mature 2's and 3's, plus they still have a ton to learn. I see the defensive potential though, especially with Wiggins.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Do you guys see Lavine's long-term position as a 1 or 2? Watching him play makes me think he is a PG long-term which brings up the debate as to who you keep as the PG long-term. Lavine is already a better shooter and athlete than Ricky and Ricky is a better passer and 1 on 1 defender. It's an interesting argument for sure. I think you give Lavine 2-3 years as a backup combo guard and potential starter at the 2 and go from there, but I'm not sure how good he'll be off the ball which doesn't fit with Ricky who can't really play off the ball either. Time will tell.

He's a 2 in my opinion. While he handled himself with great poise and made some nice plays, he also made a lot of poor decisions (he had 17 assists to 20 turnovers - not good at all). He consistently went too wide in the pick and roll when he should have been turning the corner aggressively and getting into the paint, which would have put a lot more pressure on the defense. Too often he'd take the pick, go wide, and then just swing it out to someone else on the perimeter who was guarded.

Also, for all of his speed and leaping ability, he's in love with the jump shot, probably because he can get it off so easily. He's not a guy that's constantly looking to penetrate the defense and then find people. He loves nothing more than putting the ball on the floor once or twice and then pulling up for a jumper.

Lastly, a prototypical 2 in my opinion should have some PG-like qualities. He should be able to run some PnR. He should be able to bring the ball up if the PG is being pressed. He should be able to find open people in transition. These are classic guard skills, regardless if someone plays PG or SG. The fact LaVine showed a bit of these skills only enhances his prospects as a well-rounded SG in my opinion.

[bleedspeed]

What happens with our 2015 pick? Does it go to the Suns? Would it be crazy to land Kristaps Porzingis in next years draft?

[SameOldNudityDrew]

If we get Wiggins, I think I'll be a little sorry the Cavs didn't draft Parker. I think Parker's ultimately going to be a better player than Wiggins, though I always love defensive-minded players.