Yeah, I'm really curious to see what the Cavs do. They're situation is a little tricky. Bron and Wiggens are 10 years apart (19 and 29). Usually guys don't enter their prime until they're about 25. Even the rare superstars like Durant and Anthony Davis ("The Brow") don't start putting up elite numbers until about 23. But then players usually start to lose their athleticism by about 32. The highly skilled players like Kobe and Dirk can remain to put up big numbers until about 35 because they can rely on their skills. Then we have to look at the big IF factor. Wiggens is purely potential right now. His potential is the next LeBron (in which the likelihood is more on the low side). So, let's say Wiggens does become the next LeBron. By the time he reaches his prime, the real LeBron will probably be less of a factor (think Shaq in his twilight years). And for the next few years while LeBron is still in his prime, Wiggens probably won't be much of a factor.
I think Kyrie Irving makes the situation a little more interesting though. He's 22 and reaching his prime. This upcoming year might be the year he's one of the best PGs in the game. I never thought Irving would be a superstar or a guy to build around, but he'd make a heck of a #2 man. So he could be a great #2 man to pair alongside LeBron the next 4 years while Wiggens is still developing. And then by that time, when LeBron is regressing and Wiggens has reached his prime, Irving will only be about 26-27 and will still have another 4-5 years left in the tank to play at a high level. So Irving can sort of be the bridge between LeBron and Wiggens.
I think this could be an ideal situation. Sort of reminds me of the Indianapolis Colts, going from Peyton to Luck without losing a beat.
However, in this situation, a lot will still be on LeBron's shoulders. I don't think a team of a 22 year old Kyrie Irving and a 19 year old Andrew Wiggins is better than anything LeBron had in Miami. And as Kyrie becomes 23-24-25 and Andrew becomes 20-21-22 the team will start to be as good as, and eventually better than those Heat teams. And that's IF Wiggens becomes the next big superstar. If he's a bust or just another guy, then all bets are off.
Also, even though the Cavs (in the above scenario) can be good for a looooong time to come (counting the rest of LeBron's career and the rest of Wiggen's career), I think the city and team of Cleveland has a special kind of relationship with LeBron. I think they think they sort of owe LeBron (and I think LeBron thinks he owes Cleveland). So I think Cleveland finds the short term success (under LeBron's helm) to be more important than the long term success (under Wiggen's helm). In this case, I think you have to take the "easy way out" and trade Wiggens for Love. That'll give you a 25 year old Love already in his prime, and a 22 year old Irving reaching his prime, to pair with a 29 year old LeBron who maybe only has another 4-5 years in his prime. If you have to sacrifice the future of the franchise (Wiggens) to win in the next 4-5 years with hometown boy LeBron, I think you do it.
