Who should go, Kyrie or Love?
With the winner of the Western Conference Finals likely to eventually grab the NBA Championship this June, the Cleveland Cavaliers could potentially blow up their team this off-season. Last month, they even flirted with the idea of trading Kevin Love, to see what his market value was at the time.
According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, Boston reportedly offered a low-ball package before February’s mid-season trade deadline (we’re assuming of non-lottery picks and role players), which was immediately turned down yb Cleveland GM, David Griffin. We’re not sure what kind of mystery players the Cavaliers were expecting in return, even if Danny Ainge has been high on Kevin; but Cleveland will finally get their first look at a completely healthy big-three tandem – headlined by the King. The veteran from UCLA has put up a respectable 16 and 10 season – missing only three games.
While LeBron James, now at 31, has shown some decline in his game from mileage since 2003, he’s still arguably the second best player in the league. As this continues to be in win-now mode for the King, who has a window of bringing The Land an eventual title closing; trading away Love for a more defensively efficient stretch four or even getting an off-ball presence James needs at the expense of Kyrie Irving, would be likely if they don’t put up a respectable fight in June.
The King isn’t leaving Cleveland until he delivers a title to his faithful fans, and still has his power with yearly contract renewals to keep Dan Gilbert in check for building a proper competitor around him. Take a look at Lowe’s excerpt from his ESPN feature below and let us know what you think the Cavs should do this off-season, if they don’t hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
If they lose again, I’d bet big on Love being elsewhere — a split that might end up the best thing for everyone. Cleveland and Boston had trade talks for Love at the deadline, though they died with Boston offering a low-ball package the Cavs wouldn’t consider, according to several league sources. Even if Boston’s interest has faded, someone will call Cleveland about Love around the draft. Wiggins has more trade value than Love now, but that deal was the right move at the time.
Read more of Zach Lowe’s full feature The Cleveland Deadline on ESPN.
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