The Cleveland Cavaliers have gone from the one of the worst teams in the NBA to the outright favorite to win the 2014 NBA Championship.
With news that the Cavs and T’Wolves have agreed to a trade for Kevin Love, the Cavs are now 5-2 favorites to win it all. One rival GM says not so fast.
“It is a really good move for both sides,” one rival general manager said. “Minnesota is getting players with tremendous upside and a first (-round pick). Cleveland gets an All-Star power forward, a stretch four who will excel with LeBron James.
“Still, if — and it’s a big if — Derrick Rose is healthy, I stay with Chicago to come out of the East,” the GM said.
Despite a dream team outlook on paper, we still have yet to see Kyrie Irving make his teammates better, nor has Kevin Love ever had to perform under championship pressure.
That rival GM believes those unknowns are the reason Chicago is the still the team to beat.
“After this you have to say LeBron is the best player and probably the best GM,” one Eastern assistant coach said with a laugh. “LeBron brings everybody to a high level. Love has 3-point range and with LeBron, he’ll shoot better, rebound better, defend better, just be better.
“But I will stay with Chicago until further notice. I think the addition of [Pau] Gasol swings it in their favor.”