LeBron on Love joining Cavs: 'If he comes aboard, I will be very excited to have him'

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LeBron James knows a lot can happen between now and Aug. 23, when top draft pick Andrew Wiggins can be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Love, but he also knows what a huge piece the All-Star forward can be in Cleveland's playoff pursuit.

"If he comes aboard, I will be very excited to have him," James said Friday at an event for the LeBron James Family Foundation in Akron, Ohio, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein.

"I don't even really care about the 26 [points] and 12 [rebounds], I care about his basketball IQ. His basketball IQ is very, very high. I had the opportunity to spend 32 days with him in the 2012 Olympics. He was huge for us ... he's a great piece."

According to ESPN sources, both the Cavaliers and Timberwolves are avoiding a confirmation of the trade - which would send Wiggins, 2013 first-overall pick Anthony Bennett, and a future No. 1 pick to Minnesota for Love - to adhere to "strict league rules on the matter."

The framework for a deal was reportedly in place mid-July, and James was anticipating the Cavs' pursuit of Love since he re-signed in his home state, sources said.

"We can't get too far into it because of league rules, we don't know for sure," James said. "I'm not getting my hopes too high on it right now because you don't know what could happen between now and the 23rd."