Skip to main content

LeBron James on Kevin Love-Andrew Wiggins trade: ‘We’re happy’

Andrew Wiggins won Rookie of the Year honors last year and is now averaging 20.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7​ assists per game.
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are pleased with the results in the two years after Kevin Love was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for 2014 No. 1 pickAndrew Wiggins, he tells ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. 

James says the trade goes beyond the one-for-one tier of Wiggins and Love.

“Without Andy [Varejao] going down and being injured, do we get Timo [Mozgov]? And do we make the trade for Shump [Iman Shumpert] and J.R. [Smith]? So, so many things happen throughout the course of a season,” James said. “I think if both sides are happy with what happened—we’re happy with having Kev and I know they’re happy with having Wiggins—so, that’s all that matters.”

SI’s NBA Week in Review: Best plays and more | LeBron’s activist work

After the trade, the Timberwolves finished with the NBA’s worst record of 16–66 and drafted Karl Anthony-Towns with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Wiggins won Rookie of the Year honors. He is averaging 20.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7​ assists per game.

SI Media Podcast: Cavs reporter Chris Haynes on covering LeBron

Cleveland went to the NBA Finals before losing to the Golden State Warriors. Love is averaging 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season. 

The Cavaliers beat the Timberwolves 125–99 on Friday night at the Target Center. James posted a double double of 13 points and 12 rebounds while Wiggin scored a career-high 35 points for Minnesota.