It looks like Kevin Love’s time with the Cleveland Cavaliers is over

The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be moving on from Kevin Love.

The Cleveland Cavaliers came into the 2022-2023 season with a potential sixth-man of the year candidate with Kevin Love. Love, the potential Hall of Famer, and Cavaliers icon was supposed to have a huge impact on the team’s season, and talks of a contract extension have been bandied about over the last few months. Yet, on Sunday night we all found out that most of that isn’t true anymore.

Love is no longer in J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation. It’s hard to say specifically why. He’s had back spasms this year, and tore up his dominant thumb pretty badly, which have reduced his mobility and shooting acumen, but it was pretty much a guarantee that he’d come back to the rotation once he healed up, because he was still a good offensive player heading into the season.

He’s among the team’s best passers, rebounders, and three-point shooters when healthy, yet now he’s sitting. And it’s not even hard to understand why. He’s being replaced by Dean Wade, who isn’t as offensively effective as Love but can hold his own and play near-lockdown defense.

Another player benefiting from Love’s demotion is Cedi Osman, who is among the team’s better players when he gets minutes and can have time to make his shot fall. So it’s sad that Love has been demoted, but completely understandable.

But does this mean the Cavs are moving on from Love permanently?

Kevin Love may be traded but maybe not

The Cavs may very well trade Love if the right deal comes around. With Isaac Okoro, Wade, and Osman’s improved play over the last few weeks, it’s hard to say for sure the team needs another wing anymore. If someone like Kevin Durant became available, ok, sure, but the team shouldn’t move anyone for the Cam Reddish’s of the league.

So if Love and Caris LeVert can be moved for a big name, it’ll likely happen, but if not, it should be noted the team isn’t considering a buyout of Love. This means the demotion may be a momentary thing. If the Cavs do have a trade target in mind, the hope is that LeVert is in the deal, and that may free up Love once again to return to the rotation. Especially if it’s LeVert and Okoro who get dealt.