Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Ryan Kelly. (Photo : Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has been part of multiple trade scenarios in the past, and the same murmurs continue before the start of training camp ahead of the 2016-17 NBA season.
In another silly twist to his never-ending trade saga, rumors are buzzing that Love is being shopped to Central Division rival Chicago Bulls in the hopes of upgrading its frontcourt.
In exchange, the Bulls will send forward Taj Gibson and picks for the grizzled eight-year NBA veteran.
However, General Manager David Griffin refuted the said rumors in the article by Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto. Griffin also said said that he intends to "bring back the band" for another run to defend the team's title over then-champion Golden State last June.
Previously, Love was rumored for a move to the Boston Celtics, where General Manager Danny Ainge was hot in pursuit of the former UCLA big man to bolster the team's frontcourt in the big man's brief free agency in the summer of 2015.
Love, the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, was swapped by the Timberwolves for former number one picks Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins in a three-team trade that included the Philadelphia 76ers.
He opted out after the third year of his four-year contract extension signed with the Timberwolves in 2012 to become an unrestricted free agent, but eventually settled in staying with the Cavaliers for a five-year, $113 million contract until 2020.
Since returning to the team after missing the team's 2015 NBA Finals run due to a dislocated shoulder, Love played second-fiddle to LeBron James in the absence of the injured Kyrie Irving. He produced 17.6 points and 10.8 rebounds en route to an 18-8 start in the first two months of the season.
In the 2016 Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors, he registered 17.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in the first three rounds.
Love's top-notch production on the stat sheets has been key in aiding Tyronn Lue to keep the minutes of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving low in the regular season.
