While the Cavaliers have contemplated trading Kevin Love off and on in recent years, the club currently has no plans to shop or deal the big man, sources tell ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
Cleveland’s current stance on Love doesn’t come as a real surprise. The team already traded one of its Big Three within the last month, sending Kyrie Irving to Boston in a package that included Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder. The Cavs lost some star power in that deal and likely don’t want to turn over their roster any more, with the 2017/18 season fast approaching.
While it’s easy to forget now, since the second half of the offseason in Cleveland was dominated by Irving trade talk, Love was one of the players most often mentioned in trade rumors earlier in the summer, particularly around the time of the draft. As Lowe notes – and as multiple other reporters have suggested – the Cavs nearly included Love in a three-team trade that would have landed Paul George in Cleveland in late June. However, the Pacers reportedly got cold feet on that deal, which was said to involve the Nuggets as well.
Now that Love is poised to remain in Cleveland, the Cavaliers are re-designing their offense to feature him more prominently, and may also re-work their rotation to get him more minutes at center, according to Lowe. Love has continued to play well in Cleveland, averaging a double-double (19.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG) last season. However, his numbers have paled in comparison to the ones he posted in Minnesota, where he was more of a focal point and – as Lowe details – he was used more creatively.
As Lowe writes in his in-depth feature on the four-time All-Star, the Cavs “are confident Minnesota Love still exists.” Whether the club’s new-look roster allows that old Love to resurface this season remains to be seen, but for now at least, he won’t have to deal with being the subject of constantly swirling trade rumors.
They won’t deal him now in case lebron does decide to leave and Isaiah doesn’t got back to his Boston form.
He can still be a star if he is the focus point of a team and not a 3rd scorer
If Lebron does leave he needs to do good for that franchise and do a sign and trade then they can trade love to help with a fast rebuild
If the Cavs want him to score, he will score. Tell Lue, tell the PG. I think James has his eye on all those Irving shots though.
What is Love?
Realistically a 4 if he wasn’t so soft he could be a power house but the dudes a cupcake doesn’t bag the boards and doesn’t speak up for him self
Oh so now he’s soft too.
Doesn’t “bag the boards”? He averaged 11 per game which was 8th in the league and led the Cavs.
Baby don’t hurt me no more.