We’re two days away from the NBA trade deadline, and the rumor mill is churning away at full speed. While many expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a minor move to add some bench depth, there’s still a ton of chatter regarding a potential trade of Kevin Love.
Though Cavs GM David Griffin insisted the team wasn’t interested in moving the big man, it hasn’t stopped rumors from cropping up as the deadline nears. There have been some seemingly far-fetched stories, such as a potential deal for New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. We’ve also heard about the Boston Celtics‘ desire to bring in Love.
It’s been tough to gather any sort of conclusive look at Love’s status with the team. The majority of reports are claiming that he is indeed available, but only at the right price. The belief is Cleveland will only look to deal him if it can get a star player back.
However, despite the fact these stories will only increase as Thursday’s deadline approaches, it’s tough to believe a Love deal will take place. If I had to bet on how this all ends, I would put my money on Love being a Cavalier after the deadline passes.
Now, if Love ends up in another jersey by the end of this week, I’ll more than happily admit I was wrong here.
That said, when you look at the situation, you can see why the idea of Love getting moved is unlikely.
For one, as the reports claim, Cleveland would have to get a star in return. This is certainly the right decision to make, especially when you consider the fact the Cavs had to trade the reigning rookie of the year, Andrew Wiggins, to get him.
With this in mind, who has a star to part with to get Love? And please don’t suggest the Knicks. Yes, Anthony is a very talented player, but he’s coming off knee surgery, stops the ball often on offense and doesn’t seem to care too much about defense.
So, unless there’s a team we haven’t heard from that is willing to part with a legit superstar, it’s unlikely the Cavs find someone to meet their asking price.
You could of course argue Cleveland is asking for too much, especially since Love has yet to really look like the All-Star seen with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Some may believe a deal including draft picks and some quality role players – a package the Celtics are rumored to be offering – could be a solid deal. In many scenarios, this would be correct.
However, this is not one of those scenarios.
Draft picks and complimentary players, while a nice offering, simply aren’t going to do the Cavs any good right now. Cleveland is in championship-or-bust mode, trying to make the most of LeBron James’ final prime years. Moving Love for a package like this will only damage the team’s chances at winning a title any time soon. If the Cavs had any interest in building for the future, they wouldn’t have traded Wiggins for Love in the first place.
Obviously, you can never say never when it comes to the NBA trade deadline. For all we know, Cleveland could be actively working the phones as we speak, seeing what kind of deal can be made for Love.
At the end of the day, though, the least surprising scenario in all of this would be Love remaining with the Cavaliers. You can’t help but think the team is only intimating he’s available to see if they can convince someone to overpay.
Honestly, I wouldn’t bet on that happening either.
