I had been thinking that he would stay. I figured that Cle would go all out to keep him as they just traded a first for him and he is still a big talent even if he didn't have the best year or the best fit. But what I hadn't considered was Lebron James running the show.

 LBJ has a very different viewpoint than a traditional GM, he only needs to worry about winning now, and while he would like to stay he could always play elsewhere down the road if need be. For James trading the 1st pick for Love is a no brainer- win now. By this same logic, he might be quick to move on from Love.

If Lebron can find a better use for the money I don't think he will care at all that he lost Love whom he lost the 1st for. I would assume that Lebron could recruit a lot of talent and get some guys to play for less.

I'm not so sure about their cap situation. I know they are in for a huge bill by keeping everyone but if they let Love go they may still be over or at least not under by enough to sign anyone good.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired forward Kevin Love in a three-team trade that sends guard Andrew Wiggins and forward Anthony Bennett to Minnesota and a protected 2015 first round pick (via Miami) to Philadelphia,

I guess the question is: is there a better option for LBJ than bringing back Love?

Quote from: Hemingway on June 11, 2015, 12:32:07 AM

I had been thinking that he would stay. I figured that Cle would go all out to keep him as they just traded a first for him and he is still a big talent even if he didn't have the best year or the best fit. But what I hadn't considered was Lebron James running the show.

 LBJ has a very different viewpoint than a traditional GM, he only needs to worry about winning now, and while he would like to stay he could always play elsewhere down the road if need be. For James trading the 1st pick for Love is a no brainer- win now. By this same logic, he might be quick to move on from Love.

If Lebron can find a better use for the money I don't think he will care at all that he lost Love whom he lost the 1st for. I would assume that Lebron could recruit a lot of talent and get some guys to play for less.

I'm not so sure about their cap situation. I know they are in for a huge bill by keeping everyone but if they let Love go they may still be over or at least not under by enough to sign anyone good.

This is all speculation though. Love is probably not going to leave. If he left, it would definitely be detrimental to the Cavs success. Love is at least a top 5 PF, and was traded for not just one, but two first round picks. Yes Bennett sucks, but... he was still a first round pick that the Cavs chose.

Quote

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired forward Kevin Love in a three-team trade that sends guard Andrew Wiggins and forward Anthony Bennett to Minnesota and a protected 2015 first round pick (via Miami) to Philadelphia,

So where does Lebron find better use for the money, when they have invested so much is beyond me. That would be absurd. If you're the Cavs, you're praying he doesn't opt out. Love is a talented offensive player, and while he would have to be like a third option, Love would still put up numbers on any team.

The real question is who would fit the Cavs system better? I don't see Gasol leaving. LMA? Jordan?

The conundrum that the Cavs have this off-season is they have to think about who they want to pay this summer. Love, Thompson, or both. Teams don't like having guys being paid $15+ million to come off the bench. Considering Love's reputation (even if he didn't fit well on the Cavs he's gonna get paid), and Thompson coming alive this post-season, I'm not not too sure Cleveland will want to pay them both big contracts and I'm not too sure if Love or Thompson will like sacrificing minutes for the other. My gut tells me they will lean towards Thompson because he's better defensively than love is and what's to say they couldn't get that same kind of production out of Channing Frye or Ryan Anderson that they got out of Love this year? I'm not saying Frye or Anderson are at Love's caliber but they are stretch 4s which is what Cleveland had Love be this year. They also can be had for a cheaper price than what Love is going to ask for.

I think Love will leave (I'm fully aware of what he has told the media. Johnny damon said the same thing back in 2005), but I think it's possible Cleveland won't want him back after seeing what Thompson and Mozgov have done together on the defensive side. Granted I'm sure Cleveland would regret letting the guy who they traded Andrew Wiggins for leave for nothing, but in the end it might be what's best for them.

This new identity has worked for us because of the matchups we’ve had,” David Griffin says. “But we were the best team in the league with the Big Three healthy. We want to be that juggernaut again. We want to be a more talented version of this group of gritty overachievers.”

Quote from: Hemingway on June 11, 2015, 12:50:29 AM

I guess the question is: is there a better option for LBJ than bringing back Love?

If Love leaves, the Cavs will still be over the cap, so they're not really going to have any significant money to sign a replacement.  There could potentially be a sign-and-trade, but there aren't a lot of great fits.

Quote from: Roy H. on June 11, 2015, 07:49:34 AM

Quote from: Hemingway on June 11, 2015, 12:50:29 AM

I guess the question is: is there a better option for LBJ than bringing back Love?

If Love leaves, the Cavs will still be over the cap, so they're not really going to have any significant money to sign a replacement.  There could potentially be a sign-and-trade, but there aren't a lot of great fits.

I was thinking of a sign and trade, as well. I realize there is no real benefit for the player in doing this since he can still only get that four-year deal, but maybe Love will want to leave on a good note. If he decides to go to Boston (for instance), wouldn't it be 'nice' of him to be traded there and give the Cavs a TPE and a pick?

Also, as mentioned above, they have Haywood's non-guaranteed contract. With these two large salary slots, it seems they could bring in some decent talent even if the players they are acquiring aren't quite worth their contracts.

Either way, unless Lebron seriously turns on the charm, I don't see how Love returns to Cle.

Quote from: Roy H. on June 11, 2015, 07:49:34 AM

Quote from: Hemingway on June 11, 2015, 12:50:29 AM

I guess the question is: is there a better option for LBJ than bringing back Love?

If Love leaves, the Cavs will still be over the cap, so they're not really going to have any significant money to sign a replacement.  There could potentially be a sign-and-trade, but there aren't a lot of great fits.

They do have Brendan Haywood's non-guaranteed $10.5 mil contract to use to trade for someone.  Maybe try to get someone like Ryan Anderson as a bench scoring big.