Report: Cavs Unlikely to Make Kevin Love Available in Trade Talks This Summer

While trade speculation has been attached to much of power forward Kevin Love’s five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, this offseason will likely change the equation in that department.

That’s because a new report indicates that the rebuilding team doesn’t appear likely to make him available in any trade talks.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com answered about dealing Love by pointing out that he serves as a solid role model for the team’s younger players:

“Love is not one of the players the Cavs are looking to deal. They want him here. They believe his professionalism and leadership are important. He’s the kind of player any team should want around a young group because of the daily example he sets.”

A more practical reason for holding onto Love is because they’d be trading away a player who can deliver a double-double on a nightly basis.

Teams are likely to be leery of dealing for Love because he turns 31 in September, has a lengthy injury history and is set to begin a four-year contract extension that will pay him $120 million. Last season, Love played in just 22 games after undergoing surgery on his toe in early November.

Prior to signing that contract extension, Love was rumored to be on the trade market after LeBron James left as a free agent. Yet in his brief time on the court during the 2018-19 season, Love showed he can still be a valuable contributor to the team by averaging 17.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

More importantly are the differences in the Cavaliers’ record when Love played and when he didn’t take the court. In those 22 games played, the team had a record of 7-15, though the first four losses came prior to his surgery. In the other 60 contests, the Cavs were an embarrassing 12-48.

The fact that Love offers the Cavaliers a talented veteran who’s embraced the rebuilding concept is one reason why keeping him around makes so much sense. That could conceivably change at some point, but for now, the expectation is that he’ll be in a Cavs uniform for their 2019-20 opener in October.