Cavaliers' signing could be prelude to blockbuster trade for Love

Andrew Wiggins has an NBA home - but it might only be temporary.

The Cavaliers signed the No 1 overall draft pick on Thursday, a deal that prevents the 6-foot-8 Canadian forward from being traded for 30 days.

Wiggins has been linked to a possible blockbuster trade with Minnesota for All-Star forward Kevin Love, but any deal now involving the former University of Kansas star can't be finalized for at least 30 days.

The Cavs and Timberwolves have had talks about a trade involving Love for months, long before Cleveland selected Wiggins with the first pick in May's draft.

Those discussions have intensified lately and while the sides can still reach an agreement on a trade, nothing can be finalized until late August.

Now that Wiggins is under contract, the league's seldom-used 30-day rule is in effect.

It was designed to prevent teams from circumventing salary cap rules. There have been restrictions placed on trading newly signed rookies dating back to the 1998-99 collective bargaining agreement.

At that time, rookies were lumped in with all free agents into a rule that prevents any newly signed player from being traded for three months or before Dec 15 of the next season - whichever is longer.

The rule was modified in the 2005 CBA, separating rookie contracts into a different category with the shorter, 30-day timeline between signing date and trade eligibility.

The spirit behind the rule is that if a rookie is traded immediately after he signs, it gives the appearance the acquiring team is the one that is in fact signing him.

Cleveland's decision to sign Wiggins actually makes it easier to trade him. Before his deal, he had zero value on the salary cap but his contract - worth $5.5 million - could allow the Cavs to clear enough room to take on a player like Love, who is sent to earn $15.7 million next season.

Minnesota has received offers from other teams, including the Chicago Bulls, who reached out to the Timberwolves this week, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions who requested anonymity because the teams were not publicly commenting on the process.

With Wiggins unable to be moved by Cleveland for a month, it's possible other teams might approach the Timberwolves to make a run at Love, a double-double machine and arguably the league's top power forward.

Love is entering his final year under contract in Minnesota and has said he does not intend to sign a long-term deal with the Timberwolves.

Golden State has also shown interest in the 25-year-old Love, but the Warriors have refused to include guard Klay Thompson in any offer, which has been a deal-breaker for the Timberwolves.

Cleveland had been reluctant to include Wiggins in a package for Love, but the team has softened its stance and might be willing to part with the flashy forward, who has a 44-inch vertical leap.

The Cavs are interested in bringing in Love to form a "Big 3" with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. That trio would make the Cavs an overwhelming favorite in the Eastern Conference, and potentially put them in position to win the city's first major sports championship since 1964.

Cleveland also signed rookie Joe Harris, taken with the first pick (No 33 overall) of the second round. Harris, who played at West Virginia, averaged 7.8 points in four summer league games in Las Vegas.

(China Daily 07/26/2014 page9)