Hypothetical..

[Porckchop]

Lets just say the Wolves end up with Wiggins , Bennet , Thaddeus and a first for love. And then lets say the Wolves take some serious lumps this coming season and position themselves for the first pick (Okafor) in next years draft.
Is it possible to consider that the Wolves actually come out on top in the Love trade. Something that rarely happens when losing ur star player?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

If Cleveland wins a title the most the trade can be is a draw and that would take us winning a title to get to that level. I think the best way to look at the deal would be like the LA-Memphis trade. LA won their titles and Memphis got a piece that has been a significant factor in their long-term success. LA still won the trade, but Memphis wad also a winner because of the trade.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I don't think the Wolves will be bad enough to have a top-ten pick next year unless serious injuries take over. And like khans already said, Cleveland likely wins a title with a LeBron/Love/Irving core. The best we can hope for is Wiggins to become an All-Star caliber player so we don't lose the trade since we're losing a top-10 player in the league.

[Porckchop]

I don't think the Wolves will be bad enough to have a top-ten pick next year unless serious injuries take over. And like khans already said, Cleveland likely wins a title with a LeBron/Love/Irving core. The best we can hope for is Wiggins to become an All-Star caliber player so we don't lose the trade since we're losing a top-10 player in the league.[/quote

I have a hard time using a Cleveland title as a measuring stick to determine who got the better end. Love isnt goin to a team where hes goin to be the main man. Lebron will be first and foremost the reason Cleveland wins. If Love was traded to a team where he was unquestionably the man id be more prone to using records as a determining factor.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The NBA is about winning championships. If Team A (CLE in this case) makes a trade with Team B (MIN) for a significant piece and wins a title because of it, then they won the trade. It's as simple as that. LA won the Gasol trade. Boston won the Garnett trade. It doesn't matter if Love is the man or not. He'll be the piece that pushes that team to a championship level.

[Porckchop]

The NBA is about winning championships. If Team A (CLE in this case) makes a trade with Team B (MIN) for a significant piece and wins a title because of it, then they won the trade. It's as simple as that. LA won the Gasol trade. Boston won the Garnett trade. It doesn't matter if Love is the man or not. He'll be the piece that pushes that team to a championship level.

I get it, I just dont think its that black n white personally. The Wolves werent winning a championship with Love so trading him to a ready made team shouldnt mean the Wolves have no shot at winning the deal if it makes them younger , deeper, more athletic and more fun to watch. Usually if u can combine all those things its a winning product.
To me if the trade hands the Cavs a championship and the Wolves a shot at a winning record on a consistent basis than thats a win for the Wolves. They werent doing that with Love..

[MikeAz [enjin:6636981]]

Lets just say the Wolves end up with Wiggins , Bennet , Thaddeus and a first for love. And then lets say the Wolves take some serious lumps this coming season and position themselves for the first pick (Okafor) in next years draft.
Is it possible to consider that the Wolves actually come out on top in the Love trade. Something that rarely happens when losing ur star player?

It could also give them some salary cap flexibility next offseason to bring in another piece.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Porkchop has teed up an interesting topic...how do you evaluate who wins a trade? I don't think it's a competition because both teams can win. Frankly, how our trading partner does after the trade doesn't enter into the equation for me as to whether the Wolves win a trade or not. The only thing I am interested in is whether the trade makes us better or more watchable. If Cleveland wins a championship next year, but the Wolves also become a much better team, make the playoffs and position themselves for a more promising future, it would be difficult for me to not call the trade a win for the Wolves. Conversely, if Love rekindles his interest in knuckle pushups, James also gets hurt, and the Cavs miss the playoffs, but everyone we get back in the trade flops and the Wolves get worse, I wouldn't say that the trade was a win for the Wolves.

Ultimately, the trade is a win if our future is brighter after the trade, and that's not a very high bar to clear.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

LST, that's judging a trade from the Wolves side only. You debated with me over and over about a Love-to-CLE trade and you wanted to be oh so determined in looking at everything from both sides. What's the difference in evaluating a trade? Why ignore what happens for CLE after the trade is made?

[Porckchop]

LST, that's judging a trade from the Wolves side only. You debated with me over and over about a Love-to-CLE trade and you wanted to be oh so determined in looking at everything from both sides. What's the difference in evaluating a trade? Why ignore what happens for CLE after the trade is made?

For me , the Lebron factor skews everything in Clevelands favor. Its not a fair evaluation .IMO