Kevin Love (Photo : Getty Images)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly projected to trade their multi-year contract player All-Star Kevin Love before the trade deadline in hopes of acquiring a "meaningful package of players and assets."
The Sports Illustrated predicted that Love, who just signed a five-year $110 million deal with the Cavs, could be moved before this season's trade deadline.
The report suggested that Love's weak relationship with the Cavs and his difficulty fitting into the Cleveland's small ball lineup makes the three-time All-Star expendable albeit with "a lot of trade value."
Moreover, the report also added that the late signing of Tristan Thompson to another five-year deal gives the Cavs the option to transfer Love for players who would fill every need around Lebron James and Kyrie Irving.
So far, Love has been putting up solid numbers for the Cavs as the second scorer behind James, averaging 17.6 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. The numbers are far below his peak numbers during his last year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he posted 26.1 points per game.
However, Love has been only shooting 40.7 percent from the field and is still struggling to find where he fits in David Blatt's rotation.
It is hard to imagine that the Cavs would let go of Love, especially in this season and the fact that he just signed a multi-year deal with the organization. But if the Cavs would pursue a trade, the ideal landing spot for Love would be teams that are desperate to get a difference-maker like the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have been on a slump ever since Phil Jackson's era ended in Tinsel Town, and this season is no different for Kobe Bryant and company.
Love has been heavily linked to sign with the Lakers last year as he played for UCLA before and has always loved staying in the City of Angels.
With the Lakers plenty of cap room space next year due to the league's upcoming massive TV deal, acquiring Love via trade would not be impossible.
Trading for Love would also avenge the Lakers' failed attempt to land a superstar during this summer's free agency.
In return, Los Angeles could give up one of their young core of talents like Julius Randle.
According to Real GM trade checker, a trade scenario involving Roy Hibbert and Randle for Love would work for both teams.
Randle and Hibbert are both putting up decent numbers for the struggling Lakers early in the season, but their outputs do not seem enough to help LA return to the playoffs. However, bringing in Randle and Hibbert into the Cavs' lineup would create a log in the team's frontcourt roster.
Meanwhile, Love would instantly elevate the Lakers from becoming the NBA's laughingstock and would have the chance to regain his All-Star form.
While it is unlikely the Lakers trade their future franchise players, the 16-time NBA champs would clearly entertain a "win-now" scenario than "rebuilding mode", especially with Bryant considering retirement from the NBA once his contract expires.
