Most believe the Cleveland Cavaliers traded rookie Andrew Wiggins to the Minnesota Timberwolves because they wanted to chase a championship with All-Star Kevin Love, but was there actually another reason? ESPN's Brian Windhorst suggested Wiggins was ultimately traded because he declined to sign with the LeBron James's representation.
Windhorst appeared on WKNR's "Really Big Show" on Tuesday and proffered a new theory as to why James didn't want Wiggins to stick around in Cleveland.
Windhorst (via WaitingForNextYear):
"Let me draw a bit of a map for you. Andrew Wiggins is from Toronto-area Canada, right? Tristan Thompson is from the Toronto area. Cory Joseph, who wound up playing for the San Antonio Spurs, is also from the Toronto area and is also represented by LeBron-by Rich Paul and LeBron. Obviously, you can imagine, because of their relationship with Canadian basketball and getting players out of there that they were on Wiggins as a potential representation player very early and he did not choose to go with them. That choice was made before the Cavs even won the lottery; the decision was made long before that. There was a chance for Andrew Wiggins to 'join up with LeBron' before LeBron had a chance to pair up with Wiggins. Just keep that in mind. ...
"I also think LeBron wanted Kevin Love, so that was a factor. I think the issue is Wiggins said that he never heard from LeBron. Kyrie Irving heard from LeBron. Dion [Waiters] heard from LeBron-that story of 'get yourself ready.' They made the deal in mid-July. LeBron had been a Cav for several weeks before the deal was struck and still never reached out to him. You could tell, Wiggins passed up the opportunity to join LeBron's team..."
Paul, James's agent, is the founder of Klutch Sports Group, and James himself is the part owner of LRMR, a sports and brand management company.
Cleveland was in "win-now" mode when they traded for Love, and Wiggins was Cleveland's most valuable asset. But what makes Windhorst's report worth considering is that he's made a career out of following James. Moreover, when James re-signed with Cleveland last summer the franchise seemingly gave him the keys to the car - it's all but certain James had say in the team's personnel decisions.
Logic says James pushed for the Love trade because he wanted to play with a proven star, but Windhorst's report at least raises the question of whether James's choice to exclude Wiggins from the team's future plans had anything to do with the rookie spurning him.
