There’s a reason Andrew Wiggins has so far been left unsigned, but it’s not because the Cleveland Cavaliers think he’s not worth the money.
Wiggins is expected to sign a contract worth roughly $5.5 million for the coming season, ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst reported Monday, citing sources. Finally, Wiggins would officially be a Cav almost a month after he was taken as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
Locking up Wiggins would prohibit the Cavs from including him in any trade — for instance, one involving Kevin Love — for 30 days after the signing becoming official. So, any potential deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves would need to wait at least a month.
The delay in signing Wiggins is not due to Love, however, according to Windhorst. Rather, the Cavs have been eyeing other free-agent moves that require them staying below the salary cap. (Teams are allowed to exceed the cap to sign their draft picks.) We’ll wink and nod, and accept Cleveland’s stated rationale, for now, but we all know the primary fallout from Wiggins signing is how it pertains to a Love trade, and only a Love trade.
