Cavs Coach Blatt: Wiggins “Not Going Anywhere”

The Cleveland Cavaliers already scored the biggest coup of the summer in coaxing LeBron James home, but it’s apparent they still have hopes of acquiring another superstar: Kevin Love. Cleveland has already offered the Minnesota Timberwolves a trade package for the stranded big man, one which the ‘Wolves refused because it didn’t include prized rookie Andrew Wiggins. And though the Cavs will continue to pursue Love, coach David Blatt made it clear yesterday that Wiggins will be in Cleveland for the long-haul.

As reported originally by ESPN, Blatt told a media contingent yesterday in Las Vegas that Wiggins won’t be part of any Love trade talks.

“There’s no reason or cause for worry on his part because Andrew’s not going anywhere, as far as I know and as far as the club has expressed,” the first-time NBA head coach said.

It’s been reported ad nauseam since James left Wiggins’ name out of his essay in Sports Illustrated that the rookie won’t be traded despite rampant speculation otherwise. ESPN’s Chris Broussard says that the Cavs will try to engage a third team in a potential Love deal as opposed to surrendering Wiggins, who scored 18 points and dazzled the crowd with his otherworldly athleticism in his Summer League debut on Friday despite missing several open shots.

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Though James’ signing creates some positional overlap with Wiggins on the surface, digging deeper reveals that both stars could be aided by the presence of the other. Wiggins’ supreme natural defensive abilities will ease LeBron’s burden on that end, and his underrated merit as a half-court cutter will make things easier on James, too. But it’s The King’s influence on Wiggins that obviously looms largest, and surely is of the many factors that dissuades Cleveland from wanting to swap the Canadian sensation for Love.

“I would think for a guy like Andrew, to have the opportunity to play with arguably one of the best players of all time, and to learn from him and to be tutored by him and to play alongside him — which he will — I gotta think that’s a tremendous boost to his confidence and his comfort level and probably his motivation,” Blatt said yesterday.

Of course, this could be simple posturing by the Cavs. As the Golden State Warriors still refuse to part with Klay Thompson, an imminent trade partner for Minnesota has yet to emerge. It makes sense for Cleveland to hold out on including Wiggins in talks for Love until they’ve exhausted every alternate means to acquiring the three-time All-Star.

For now, however, the Cavaliers are steadfast in their stance that the number one pick in the 2014 draft isn’t going anywhere. Until Love finally departs Minnesota for elsewhere, though, don’t expect rumors surrounding Wiggins to fade.

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