Any chance the Cavs would trade Kevin Love?

[LarBrd33]

Cavs won't make any moves until the summer and I doubt they move him then unless he wants to be traded.

If they don't win it this year and Love is still putting up underwhelming numbers, I can definitely see them trading him.

He is averaging 16/11 and shooting pretty much his career averages (slightly lower from 2, but a smidge better from 3).  I wouldn't exactly call that underwhelming numbers.  In fact it is pretty much the drop expected from going from a #1 option to a #2/3 option

Kyrie has missed most of the season. It shouldn't surprise anyone that loves's numbers were up with him being the 2nd option and the team making a concerted effort to get him involved in the offense.

The problem last year, and the problem so far since Kyrie has returned, is that Love as a 3rd offensive option just sort of stands around waiting to take open shots.   His numbers are way down since Kyrie returned.    Love is a guy who can be the centerpiece of an offense.  His role in Cleveland will not allow for that.  So unless he's super comfortable being an afterthought on offense (averaging 11 points on 36% shooting with Kyrie back) and the Cavs are comfortable with Love's defense... a trade is still very possible.

[D Dub]

They'd be better off trading Kyrie.   With lbj, don't need another guy putting up 20 shots from the perimeter.   

Smart, Lee & a pick
for
Kyrie

[jpotter33]

Cavs won't make any moves until the summer and I doubt they move him then unless he wants to be traded.

If they don't win it this year and Love is still putting up underwhelming numbers, I can definitely see them trading him.

He is averaging 16/11 and shooting pretty much his career averages (slightly lower from 2, but a smidge better from 3).  I wouldn't exactly call that underwhelming numbers.  In fact it is pretty much the drop expected from going from a #1 option to a #2/3 option

Yeah, but the majority of those numbers come from when he was playing without Kyrie. As LarBrd33 pointed out above, he's "averaging 12.9 points with 36% shooting in 8 games this month with Kyrie." If he keeps putting up those underwhelming numbers, then, yes, they'll probably consider trading him if they don't win it again this season.

[jpotter33]

Cavs won't make any moves until the summer and I doubt they move him then unless he wants to be traded.

If they don't win it this year and Love is still putting up underwhelming numbers, I can definitely see them trading him.

He is averaging 16/11 and shooting pretty much his career averages (slightly lower from 2, but a smidge better from 3).  I wouldn't exactly call that underwhelming numbers.  In fact it is pretty much the drop expected from going from a #1 option to a #2/3 option

Kyrie has missed most of the season. It shouldn't surprise anyone that loves's numbers were up with him being the 2nd option and the team making a concerted effort to get him involved in the offense.

The problem last year, and the problem so far since Kyrie has returned, is that Love as a 3rd offensive option just sort of stands around waiting to take open shots.   His numbers are way down since Kyrie returned.    Love is a guy who can be the centerpiece of an offense.  His role in Cleveland will not allow for that.  So unless he's super comfortable being an afterthought on offense (averaging 11 points on 36% shooting with Kyrie back) and the Cavs are comfortable with Love's defense... a trade is still very possible.

TP. I mean, if it's anything like it was during last playoffs, i.e. either Kyrie or Lebron over-dribbling the ball and forcing up an iso shot, then I can't see him being happy for long - if they don't win it all that is. Winning cures a lot of things.

[Csfan1984]

Cavs are in win now mode so unless they go with poll trade I had up a while back, I don't see them moving Love to C's. It was Crowder, AJ and some picks (non Brooklyn) for Love. Crowder plays SF and LeBron plays PF. AJ helps there D. Maybe a possible is a three way but it's hard to invision the other team.

At this point I'd rather keep Crowder & AJ.  Love is looking an awful lot like a young version of DavidLee to me (in that he can only defend one position, and does so poorly)

Ouch Crowder is surging and Love falling so I can understand that some say no.

[TheTruthFot18]

KO would fit the need CHEAPER than Love s role on the Cavs .

Problem is with LeBron is nobody but Irving gets to develop a game or get their shot going.

LeBron is a poor team player ......I like how Curry fits into a TEAM first concept.

LeBron is not a poor team player. Kobe, yes. Iverson, Definitely. Westbrook/Harden, possibly. LeBron has won. The problem is Kyrie and Love are not the Wade and Bosh of 2010-2013.

[tarheelsxxiii]

The assumption that the Cavs won't make any moves till summer is silly to me. From w hat I've been reading, they've been one of the more active potential buyers thus far. Woj reported that they've made numerous calls offering Mozgoz for an upgrade in talent. Why wouldn't they? I'm sure they realize they can't win a 7 game series against either GS or SA this year, and every single year matters for them. Why would you waste a Finals appearance if you have an opportunity to upgrade and potentially win one?

[ssspence]

I wouldn't trade any of the BKN picks for Love. He should be a number 2 guy at best, and I don't believe his body will hold up well over the next 2-3 years.

[Moranis]

Cavs won't make any moves until the summer and I doubt they move him then unless he wants to be traded.

If they don't win it this year and Love is still putting up underwhelming numbers, I can definitely see them trading him.

He is averaging 16/11 and shooting pretty much his career averages (slightly lower from 2, but a smidge better from 3).  I wouldn't exactly call that underwhelming numbers.  In fact it is pretty much the drop expected from going from a #1 option to a #2/3 option

Yeah, but the majority of those numbers come from when he was playing without Kyrie. As LarBrd33 pointed out above, he's "averaging 12.9 points with 36% shooting in 8 games this month with Kyrie." If he keeps putting up those underwhelming numbers, then, yes, they'll probably consider trading him if they don't win it again this season.

He is also averaging 11.4 rebounds despite playing much of the month with the better rebounder (Thompson) next to him rather than the worse rebounder (Mozgov).

[CsBanner18]

This post coupled with last nights CLE-GS game inspired my newest Love to Boston trade idea. TP to the OP!

[hpantazo]

I think if you are the Cavs, you have to give this lineup of Lebron, Kyrie, and Love at least one postseason run in which all three are healthy before you move any one of them. I mean, they went to the finals with two of those three out last season, they can easily do better with all three healthy. Sure, they don't play to their max abilities every night in the regular season, but in the playoffs things change when defenses tighten , and having three potential go to scorers, at three separate positions, is huge. They don't need Love to average 20 a night in the regular season. They need him to score 15 in the 4th in a key game 5 in the finals in June or some similar setting. If he wins one game like that, he's worth it.

[LarBrd33]

I think this is more likely than people imagine.  Love is averaging 12 points over the past two months on pretty weak shooting.  He's a fantastic offensive player, but the Cavs obviously don't need him when they have Kyrie and LeBron.   If Kevin Love was a better defensive player, he'd make more sense there... but when they they have better defensive options on that team... why bother keeping Love? 

[Ogaju]

I wouldn't trade any of the BKN picks for Love. He should be a number 2 guy at best, and I don't believe his body will hold up well over the next 2-3 years.

This

Boston dodged a bullet with Love. Cleveland deserves him.

[chilidawg]

The narrative that he's a poor defender seems consistent, but are there numbers to back it up?  I haven't watched him enough to know, but his DRPM is pretty good, 16th overall among PF.

What you got to convince me otherwise?

[oldtype]

Celtics give: Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson
Cavs give: Kevin Love

Straight up, no picks involved.

Jae Crowder is pretty much exactly the player Cleveland desperately needs, a 3-4 who can defend both wings and bigs in small-ball lineups while providing reliable shooting around Kyrie and Lebron. This also allows them to decline Amir's option over the offseason and save a LOT of money via luxury tax.

For the Celtics, this probably makes us a bit worse this year because miraculously, Jae Crowder is a significantly better player than Kevin Love in 2016. It also leaves us with 0 reliable players on the wing. If we do this, we're banking heavily on Love's ceiling being much, much higher than what he's showing in Cleveland and that he'll become the first piece of our championship core.

Would people be up for this?