The trade market for Cleveland Cavaliers star big man Kevin Love seems to be taking shape.
As a result, the Cavs’ asking price is starting to crystalize as well.
According to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, the Cavs are currently asking for a first-round pick in exchange for Love. Despite that, it seems like teams around the league are actually asking the Cavs to sweeten the pot to part ways with Love.
“The Cavs are asking for a first-round pick in exchange for Love, one source with knowledge of the situation said,” Lloyd wrote. “But teams are actually asking for a first-round pick from Cleveland just to absorb the final 3 1/2 years on his deal. It only takes one injury or one team to change all of that, but at this point, the gap between what the Cavs want and what is being offered seems pretty wide.”
It’s a hard situation for the Cavs for sure. While Love could certainly help teams contending for a title this season, the price tag attached to him could become a serious road block.
Last year, Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension. For a player who is not only displaying signs of age, but also has a pretty extensive injury history, that contract might be too much for many teams to rationalize.
Still, it seems likely that the Cavs will find a way to part ways with Love eventually.
With just under two months left until the February trade deadline, it will be fascinating to see how the market for Love changes in the coming weeks.
