Every Kevin Love trade rumor more bizarre than the last
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the Eastern Conference, and, defensive struggles aside, Kevin Love is arguably their second best player. So, why exactly is the three-time All-Star such a hot topic in trade rumors?
Cavaliers general manager David Griffin understands that his team's championship window, with LeBron James as the conference’s best player, is rapidly coming to an end, and the best path going forward is to hold on and (pray the San Antonio Spurs upset the Golden State Warriors) beef up the margins (via ESPN):
But league sources say that the Cavs have made it clear to interested teams -- starting, of course, with the Love-hungry Boston Celtics -- that they'd covet a star in return if or when they do reach the point of letting Love go ... and not a package of draft picks and role players like the Celtics are offering. Despite his past and recent shoulder woes, Love holds extensive value not only because of his history of production but also because he still has three guaranteed seasons left on his current contract. But some rival executives increasingly believe that given the Cavs' expectations in such a trade and the complexity of moving a star in midseason, it's more likely that Cleveland seriously considers Love pitches in June or July, after it sees how the postseason plays out as well as what new coach Tyronn Lue gets out of the former All-Star in the playoffs.
Love has spent much of this season as a scapegoat for Cleveland's "poor play," but so much of it's undeserved. He's very, very good. The Cavaliers outscore their opponents by nearly 10 points per 100 possessions with Love on the floor, and don't even break even with him on the bench.
He's a 6-foot-10 bruiser who can shoot 3s, post up and pass. This breed is rare, and he's only 27 years old, locked into a relatively team-friendly (maximum) contract through 2020. So, again, why would Cleveland trade him?
Several teams around the league have obvious interest, but few (if any) are capable of giving Cleveland enough immediate talent to make a deal worthwhile. It makes little sense to replace Love with a placeholder, too:
The Cavaliers are an excellent defensive team with Love on the floor, and any deal that happens before Thursday's deadline would likely come across as a knee-jerk reaction to Golden State's dominance. Trading a star in his prime is rarely good for business, and the Cavaliers should hold off on doing it until they see what happens in the playoffs.