And since his return to his hometown, Lebron James has put the Cleveland Cavaliers back on the NBA map as a legitimate playoff team. And along with those aspirations, Cleveland has stormed into the Kevin Love trade talks.
While there has been only one other team in NBA history that could boast a roster with 4 #1 Overall draft picks, the Cleveland Cavaliers are actively trying to send a package of two of those #1 Overall Picks in the form of Anthony Bennett and the #1 Overall Pick in this summer's draft, Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota in a package for Kevin Love.
It is a compelling trade package built on potential.
Prior to free agency, Chicago had been very active in making offers to bring Kevin Love to Chicago, including possibly the strongest pre-draft offer to the Minesota Timberwolves of Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, and both 2014 first round draft picks (#16 and #19).
The Minnesota Timberwolves chose to wait until after the draft and free agency to see if a new suitor would emerge.
With Lebron going back to Cleveland, Minnesota's gamble seems to have paid off, as after some initial balking, the Cavs appear to be willing to send Wiggins and Bennett to the T-Wolves in order to put together another Eastern Conference superteam for Lebron James.
But after a very productive off-season, the Chicago Bulls' front office doesn't appear to be done.
The Chicago Bulls have re-emerged in the trade talks with an even bigger offer to the Minnesota Timberwolves: Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, and Rookie Sensation Doug McDemott for Kevin Love.
It is most certainly a package that would be geared to winning sooner rather than later, but that may actually appeal to the T-wolves front office. Minnosota has been mired in losing since the departure of Kevin Garnett.
And while the Chicago Bulls offer doesn't seem to have the obvious upside and potential of the two #1 overall picks, Taj Gibson nearly missed being the Sixth Man of the Year, Nikola Mirotic is the former Spanish League MVP, and Doug McDermott was one of the top players in Summer League.
Andrew Wiggins, for all his potential, may never develop into the player he could become.
And Anthony Bennett was a bonifide bust after the rookie season effort he put in. The Cavaliers have just been hoping that he will turn things around in his second season. Are there any guarantees that these two high draft picks ever reach their potential?
Who ever is left holding on to their rights had better hope so.
On the other hand, Kevin Love is a known commodity, a very productive stretch 4 that is a better shooter and rebounder than Chris Bosh ever was.
The Bulls are wise to try to keep him from joining Lebron in Cleveland, or at least raising the price for Cleveland to land him, for it may be the move that determines who advances from the Eastern Conference Finals.
Do you think that the Chicago Bulls should trade for Kevin Love? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
