Cleveland Cavs: Best Kevin Love trade options for all 29 NBA teams
By Chad Porto
The 30th team – Cleveland goes all in
Let’s say that Koby Altman knows what he’s doing, and decides to not blow up the team. Instead, opting to make a few big moves to add to the team. After all, the 76ers tanked to get Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and that’s not working out. Simmons is hamstrung in an offense where he can’t get space, and Embiid is lucky to play 50 games a year.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, however, showed the world how to rebuild while staying competitive. They added draft pieces while making a playoff-worthy roster. The team has expiring deals with talent who are capable of succeeding. That’s what the Cavs should be doing, and these are the trades that Cleveland should make.
Cleveland Cavs Trade
Cleveland Gets: G/F DeMar DeRozan, F/C LaMarcus Aldridge, G Derrick White, F Luka Samanic
San Antonio Gets: G Brandon Knight, G Matthew Dellavedova, G Dante Exum, F/C John Henson, C Ante Zizic, G Kevin Porter Jr., lottery-protected first-round draft pick
This would overhaul the entire team, and put the Cavs back into playoff contention. This trade should work without Collin Sexton or Darius Garland in the trade, as the cap relief and the first-round pick should be enough to move on from the veterans. The Cavs have enough three-point shooters that DeMar DeRozan’s lack of a three-point range won’t hurt the team too much. That would set up Garland, Sexton, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love, and LaMarcus Aldrige as your starting line, with Cedi Osman, Tristan Thompson, Derrick White, Larry Nance Jr. and Luka Samanic being your bench players.
In case no moves are made during the year and the Spurs deal isn’t on the table, the Cavs would be wise to package Collin Sexton for Bradley Beal in the off-season. This move would only be done if the Cavs decides to keep Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson. Otherwise, there’s no point in bringing Beal onto a team that wouldn’t be able to utilize him.