Report: Cavs Offering Kevin Love and No. 8 Pick for Kawhi Leonard

The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly in the market for San Antonio Spurs All-Star Kawhi Leonard since it was first revealed that he is no longer interested in playing for his current team.

With the 2018 NBA Draft just 24 hours away, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Cavs have made an offer for the All-Star forward:

“Some of those suitors know they don’t have enough: The Cavs peddling Kevin Love and the No. 8 pick, the Grizzlies with No. 4 and Chandler Parsons, the Clippers with Tobias Harris and Nos. 12 and 13.”

Compared to the other offers that are reportedly on the table, it seems that the Cavs may be offering the best deal for Leonard currently. Part of the reason why better offers have seemingly not been made is likely because many around the NBA believe that Leonard has already decided to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers next summer when his contract ends.

“In theory, almost no team should pony up its best assets for a player who could bolt in a year without a nearly ironclad assurance he will re-sign,” he wrote. “With Leonard, obtaining such assurance may not even be possible. No one knows whether they can trust the word of the advisors around him. There are deep suspicions that Leonard has already decided he wants to play for the Lakers.

“Even so, teams will look hard. Leonard is a bona fide top-five player. He finished second in MVP voting in 2016, and third in 2017. Teams can go decades without acquiring a player that good.”

If the Cavs were to make a trade for Leonard, it would likely be because Cavs general manager Koby Altman and owner Dan Gilbert feel confident that the addition of Leonard would convince LeBron James to re-sign this summer. Beyond that, they must also feel confident that Leonard and James suiting up together for one season would certainly be enough to convince the two-time Defensive Player of the Year to forgo signing with the Lakers and instead re-up with the Cavs.

Based on this package, it seems clear that the Cavs are willing to put it all on the line to try to keep James in Cleveland and build another superteam around him. Considering he is one of the greatest players in NBA history, it is no doubt worth the try.