Kevin Love is going to have an interesting offseason with the Cavs.
There are so many possibilities surrounding Kevin Love. The Cavs are supposedly looking to trade him, then there are rumors of a buyout. Let’s not forget how he’s on the Olympic’s squad after he barely did his job in 2021.
The Cavs have got to figure out what to do with Love, and there are three storylines surrounding him this offseason that may affect what happens next for the former All-Star forward.
One thing’s for certain and that’s nothing is for certain.
Team USA “demanding” a lot from him.
Greg Popovich wants you to know that Team USA is going to be demanding a lot from the Cavs forward. Kevin Love got the spot on the US Olympic squad, which sent off a touchy few days following the announcement that included Jalen Rose putting his foot in his mouth, only to then deliver a non-apology.
Some others pointed out the bad optics, that Love is healthy enough to play in the Olympics but struggled to stay on the court for the Cavaliers just weeks before. Now with Popovich declaring the team is going to rely on him and demand his best, it’s really causing people to wonder if he’s healthier than he’s led many to believe.
His performance at the Olympic games will also be a proving ground of sorts for him. Will he be able to capture some of that same essence that once made him an All-Star or is the 2020-2021 version of Love his new normal?
Golden State Warriors making a “full-court press” if bought out.
The rumors of Kevin Love going to Golden State go all the way back to his days in Minnesota. There were early talks of the Warriors ending Klay Thompson before everyone knew what he was about, over to the Warriors in a trade for Love. For whatever reason, the Warriors and Timberwolves didn’t get the deal done, and instead, the Cavs sent Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennet over.
With Love all but expressing a desire to leave, but not demanding one, a departure from the Cavs this offseason seems all but assured. What isn’t is how he’ll leave. Many believed a buyout was imminent but now a trade market has since developed for him (more on that later). Rusy Simmons, however, believes a buyout is still likely (even if no one else does) and thinks the Warriors could be one of his preferred landing spots.
The move would certainly help improve the team, especially if the Warriors end up making a trade that sends James Wiseman and their 2021 first-round pick over to get someone else on top of Love. Those two moves would remake the Warriors in a matter of moments. That said, the odds the Cavs buyout Love anytime soon don’t appear to be too good.
Cavaliers GM Koby Altman already took flack for buying out Andre Drummond this past season, even if no one was going to trade for him. Drummond, to Altman’s credit, proved why no one wanted him in a trade during his stint with the Lakers.
The difference is, Love still has people asking about him, while Drummond’s market died while the Pistons were shopping him. There was a reason the Cavs gave up next to nothing to get him.
Five teams that may be interested in his services.
Apparently, the trade market for Kevin Love is heating up with the Trailblazers, Heat, Clippers, Pelicans, and 76ers all rumored to be interested in him. Each of those teams has a need for his skillet, but how many of them are going to be interested in the price of trading for him? The Cavs may have offers already for Love, but Koby Altman may be playing hardball and stonewalling deals until he gets what he wants.
It’s also possible the trades are purposefully bad and Altman is making the right call in rejecting them. It’s either or at this point.
The focus, however, should be on what Love is worth on his own, to which we’d say; “not much”. The Cavs won’t get a first-rounder for him, and if they do that’s the heist of the century. They’re not going to get back a prized prospect either. What you should hope for is a situation where you get a good, but not great player who can come off the bench and score for you, while also getting an expiring contract.
If you can get someone who’s getting overlooked and a veteran who is in the last year of his deal and is willing to take a buyout, then that’s the perfect situation for the Cavs.