[high floorParticipant]

If Lebron decides to bolt Cleveland again, I don’t see any situation that makes sense for Kevin Love to remain on the Cavs for the start of the 2018-19 season. So I created five trade scenarios that could potentially make sense for Cleveland to consider.

*First things first, I probably don’t value Kevin Love as much as the average user on this forum. I know he’s made 5 all-star teams… I know he’s a walking double double…. I know he would unfold more parts of his game with a higher-usage sans Lebron…. but his defensive limitations and somewhat injury-prone history makes me skeptical that they would be able to receive a top 15 first round pick in return. Rough, considering they coughed up their 2019 first to the Hawks in the Korver trade. Ouch!!!!!

1.) Washington Wizards – Kevin Love for Otto Porter, future 2nd rd pick

• Cleveland does this deal to land a young, above average wing player who is 4 years younger than K-love + a future 2nd. Washington does this to add a big name player to their frontcourt, and to slide Oubre into the starting SF, and backup PF slot.

2.) Portland Trailblazers – K. Love for E. Turner & 2019 First Rd pick (Lottery Protected)

• Cleveland does this deal to be BAD! No way Turner helps them win games. But this is one of the few scenarios I could see Cleveland landing a 1st rounder, if Portland decides to keep CJ & Dame together for next season. Portland gets better, and off of the hideous Turner contract. Turner returns to Ohio. If they let Nurkic walk, they could start Ed Davis at the 5 until Collins is ready.

3.) Phoenix Suns – K. Love for T.J Warren & Tyson Chandler + future 2nd rd pick

• Cleveland does this deal to add an intriguing scorer in Warren, plus add the 2019 expiring contract of Tyson Chandler + a 2nd round pick. I think Phoenix is a sleeper destination for free-agent Marcus Smart. A defensive-minded backcourt player to ease the load for Devin Booker. Phoenix, who is perpetually in the big-name PF market, pushes for a playoff spot with this move for K Love. Again, IMO, this would only be considered if they added an established, defensive minded player to pair with Booker. 

4.) Indiana Pacers – K. Love for Thad Young, D. Sabonis & Corey Joseph, 2nd round pick

• Not crazy about this deal for either sides. But the fact they held serious discussions involving Love last season warrants this scenario. Cleveland does this deal to nab a young, intriguing post player in Domatas Sabonis. Thad Young is just an expiring contract & Corey is a competant point-guard who could start for the inevitable George Hill injury. This deal would only happen if Cleveland really values Sabonis. Plus I think Indiana is a sleeper destination for Aaron Gordon if Orlando decides not to match a potential offer sheet this summer.

5.) Utah Jazz – K. Love for Alec Burks, Jonas Jerebko & two future 2nd rd picks

• Cleveland does this deal to be bad and bottom out. It’s that simple. Burk’s contract comes off the books after next year. Utah may consider this deal if they do not retain Derrick Favors in free agency this summer. Love is a little slow defensively…. but the reigning defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert could be an intriguing frontcout partner. 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Speaking strictly as a fan, I’d like to see him in Portland. It would turn McCollum (who I like) into their 3rd option, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As great as LBJ is, playing with him is difficult, and Love was forced to be turbo Matt Bonner. People forget just how good he is in the post, and adding him with Lillard and McCollum (If he stays) could make things interesting. 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 I think trades 3 and 5 are definite possibilities. I could see either or happening, and I can see how trades are good for both sides.

I don’t think Evan Turner or Otto Porter will help the Cavs now or in the future so why get either one of them? They are just stop gaps to hold everything together. Neither one of them can operate on their own, they need someone else to hold with that. Sexton can be the guy for the Cavs, but he just got drafted so he isn’t ready for that responsibility yet.

I don’t really like trade 4 either because Thad Young has already agreed to stay with the Pacers, And they look like they are more interested in Aaron Gordon than they are K-Love. All though now that could change since Thad Young is staying in Indy, then again I don’t think will just stop pursuing Gordon because Thad Young is staying. They might find a third team who will take Young since Orlando won’t be interested, and Cleveland isn’t that third team. 

Once Lebron leaves, yes Cleveland will begin to unravel and the team we know now will begin to change. The only players that I think stay are young players, recently acquired players and a few stable veterans likeHill and Korver.

 

 

 

[high floorParticipant]

Doesn’t mean he’s staying. It just likely means Thaddeus felt he would make more money next season at his contracted 13.7M salary mark. Whether they get K-Love or not, the Pacers will definitely consider trading him if they get back a young (no pun intended) asset that matched VO & Turner’s timeline

 

[llperez]

I think you are underestimating the value of love. I don’t entertain any of these trades. I don’t a single trade on here that makes them better now or provides them with the type of guy you build around. I mean Otto porter and Evan turner are overpaid role players. Warren is solid but you can find guys like him in free agency. Same goes Domatas Sabonis.

[high floorParticipant]

Admittedly, I said in the OP that i may not be as high on K Love as the consensus on this forum. 

If Lebron leaves, I think it would be a mistake to keep Love for 2 reasons. The first is that their 2019 pick to the Hawks is top 10 protected. If K Love stays, and puts up something like 22, 10, 3 on 36% from three….. with the other veterans on the team that pick could convey if they win let’s say 32-35 games. They miss the playoffs & lose their lottery pick. Not good.

Also, the key players I mentioned in each deal at least have some upside (some limited, i get it) & are under contract for 2+ years, or help them bottom out. That gives Cleveland a chance to evaluate the other young players they have (i.e Nance, Hood, if retained, and Sexton) & build for the future.

If the Cavs don’t like offers of this type, then they keep Love, stay near the luxury tax, and stay embedded in mediocrity until their vets get off the books.

 

 

  

[ThenilonatorParticipant]

 This typifies what is wrong with the nba now in my opinion. Majority of people on here rip into teams for tanking and trying to lose games (me included!) but all the trade proposals are based around either trying to be a contender or trying to be terrible. Basically if your not the warriors or not the Celtics you need to blow it up? Why not try and be as good as you can be so your fans can watch a competitive team each night?

[high floorParticipant]

You act like I was bashing them for being relegated a 6th-8th seed, multiple playoff berth franchise if ‘Bron leaves. If he bolts, this is not a 2013-2018 Raptors, Grizzlies from 2010-2017, or Hawks from 2008-2017 situation. Those teams, although good and conference final contenders, were never mistaken as championship teams. And I find ALL THREE of the aforementioned runs to be extremely successful & something their fan-base and ownership could look back proudly upon. So don’t pigeon-hole me with that crowd. I don’t feel that way….. never have.

Even in a weak Eastern conference there is no way this team makes the playoffs. And they’re capped out! So my take is something that typifies some BS championship or perpetual top 3-pick solution??? GTFOH. 

Nobody with a solid NBA front office pedigree would support the Cavs pushing to be a 35 win team this close to the tax. In this scenario they are losing one of the game’s all-time greats, and are left with a heavilly paid / below average supportive cast

Damn….. that got me a lil heated!

 

[celtics1982Participant]

 Be a playoff team? Without LeBron I’d expect Love to be a much more effective player. You can run the offense through him and take advantage of his passing skills. Heck I think you could expect a lot of players to do better, when given larger rolls. As good as LeBron is, he turns players into jump shooters a lot of the time. That is fine for players like Korver, but really hurts players like Hood. I can see a trade or free agent signing being enough for them to be legit playoff contenders. Its not like the bottom of the East is stacked. That team has talent, a good amount of it actually, when compared to the bottom teams in the East. 

[ThenilonatorParticipant]

 Haha yeah fair enough. I probably did unfairly pigeon hole you in that crowd. I just see and hear about how bad mediocrity is and how if you are a mediocre team you need to blow it up and start again, so many teams are doing this the regular season has become a bore while waiting for playoffs. To me mediocrity is competitive and a whole lotta teams need to get competitive before the NBA loses their audience before the playoffs get here! 

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

Out the trades you’ve proposed, I like the Phoenix one the best. TJ Warren is an underrated scorer and Chandler is a seasoned vet with championship experience who’d be good in the locker room. I think Love complements Phoenix’s young talent well on offense. My only concern for Phoenix would be that between Love and Ayton, their interior defense is going to be weak, and Phoenix ranked dead last in team defense last year. By adding Bridges in the draft, and potentially Smart in free agency, they’d be better on the perimeter, though. 

[mowestenParticipant]

 I’ve been saying for a while Love to Utah makes a lot of sense to me. He and Ingles would give the Jazz a lot of outside shooting, his defensive weaknesses might be covered up a bit by Gobert, and he is a plus rebounder, which is something I think these guys could use.

It looks like Favors could be on the way out, so makes even more sense.

Downside — I don’t know what the Jazz are sending back here, sounds like a lot of nothing.

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I actually don’t expect them to trade him at all, at least not this summer. Everything I’ve heard so far seems to point to them keeping him, whether or not lebron leaves. I actually would be kind of interested to see if he could still produce like Minnesota love if given the opportunity.

[markfitz14Participant]

 I wouldn’t be mad at seeinng Bron next to a different PF than K Love.

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

Depends on if K-love is about Money or winning?

If I am K-love I would either a) Ask to be traded to where ever Lebron goes(He has said he would like to play rest of his career with him) b) Ask to be traded to team I would like to play for.

or 

Take the Money and get paid and cry myself to sleep on all those millions(lol).

Teams I could see working for him though if he does ask for a trade:

If you want to get most assets:

Phoenix-What for anything not named: Ayton, or Booker and maybe Jackson(depends how high they are on him) should be available. 

Lakers: If lebron goes there: Probaly anything except Deng, At least one of their young core(Kuzma,Ball or Ingram) and a pick or two(top 5 protected).

Mavs- an average deal,Wes matthews,multiple picks(only top 4 protected) and expiring deals for K-love and a bad deal like J.R or Tristan…

Philly-Young prospects galore and I could see them chucking in a few picks at least..

T-wolves  a Wiggins for K-love and Korver sort of move could work for both sides….

Teams K-love may choose:

Where ever Lebron goes.

OKC to play with his guy Russell westbrook(has been on record as wanting to play with him)-Could maybe get cap relief and future picks..

Houston-Would fit nicely with houston

Where ever his Girl friend lives-I think NYK who would have heaps of young talent/picks…

Portland-I think his family is from there…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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