Cavs: A Ben Simmons to Cleveland trade could give Kevin Love another shot

Kevin Love could be revived if Ben Simmons is traded to the Cavs.

The Cavs are trying to acquire Ben Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers and according to the most recent rumor, are willing to party with an untold number of assets and players to make it happen. Names like Isaac Okoro, Collin Sexton, and even Evan Mobley have been tossed about as possible pieces to be used in any deal. One name that isn’t mentioned, at all, is Kevin Love.

Trading Love for Simmons, or at the very least as part of a major package, makes the most sense. They’re near identical in salary, and Love would be a nice complement for Joel Embiid and whichever one of the dozen guards the Cavs’ send over. Yet, there remains a possibility that Love isn’t moved in any such deal.

Should the Cavs build a package around Cedi Osman, Collin Sexton, and Evan Mobley, then the Cavaliers wouldn’t have to send over guys like Ricky Rubio or Love. Meaning that Love could actually have a sort of second-wind in Cleveland.

Kevin Love is a great complement, on paper, for Ben Simmons

Kevin Love is someone who could be a great complement for Ben Simmons. Assuming Love is healthy, of course. With Love’s ability to score at all three levels, Simmons could really utilize that type of dynamic scoring.

Yes, Love’s numbers aren’t what they once were and it’s likely he doesn’t get back to the 20 points and 10 rebounds a game that he was once at (or near). That doesn’t mean that, even if off the bench, Love couldn’t find a new life as a complementary piece to Simmons.

Simmons, much like guys like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, utilize their passing ability to involve everyone else. Guys like Lauri Markkanen and Dylan Windler are going to be very valuable if a Simmons deal gets made. Especially if Collin Sexton has to be sent over in the deal. Windler and Markkanen are good shooters, at least Markkanen is, we have no idea what Windler could be. Due to their shooting, they would be weapons in a new Cavs’ offense that Simmons directs.

That’s the same rationale for Love. It’d be hard to justify starting Love over Markkanen if a deal does happen (and Love isn’t used to make it happen) but it’d be even harder to not play Love at all; especially if Mobley is sent over in the deal.

If the team has to give up a few young pieces, then Love would have a new opportunity to ingratiate himself to the fanbase. Who knows, maybe the addition of a player like Simmons will properly motivate Love to return to some sort of form.