The Cleveland Cavaliers may consider trading Kevin Love this summer if the team fails to win an NBA title, according to the latest trade rumors around the league.
The Cavs consider trading in the offseason if Cleveland continues its NBA title drought after the Finals, according to an NBA source cited by Chris Mannix of The Vertical.
"If changes are demanded this offseason, Love will be the asset pushed in trades needed to make them. As one league executive told The Vertical, 'If they go out like this, I'm betting on a Kevin Love auction'," Mannix wrote.
According to John Buhler of Sports Illustrated's Fansided, one of the potential trade deals the Cavs could explore is trading Love to the Portland Trail Blazers for CJ McCollum.
"While everybody seems to think that the Celtics are going to do whatever it takes to get Love from the Cavaliers in a trade, there is one simpler trade scenario that the Cavaliers must consider before trading Love: send Love to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers for shooting guard C.J. McCollum," Buhler wrote.
It is still too early to speculate about Love's future with the Cavs, especially with the team getting a much-needed win in their Finals series against the Golden State Warriors. But considering Love's role declining, and the Cavs playing better defense without Love on the floor, it may not be a bad idea for Cleveland to send away their All-Star power forward for a the 2015-2016 Most Improved Player.
Despite being diminished to a third-option scorer, Love still averaged a little more than 16 points and eight rebounds per game in his two seasons with the Cavs. Love would improve the Blazers' frontcourt and could become the second scorer behind Damian Lillard.
On the other hand, McCollum would be a legitimate threat at the guard position for the Cavs and would benefit from Lebron James and Kyrie Irving's playmaking abilities. McCollum also has the "killer instinct" James want to see in his teammates, although the 24-year-old must improve on his defense.
Nevertheless, McCollum has the potential to elevate the Cavs' backcourt into another level following a career-season with the Blazers, averaging 20.8 points per game, while shooting 44.8 percent from the field.
Love has been linked to trade talks during the regular season, with the Cavs reportedly testing the market for Love, although at a high asking price. While it remains to be seen whether Cleveland would truly pull the trigger to deal away the 27-year-old forward, there is a growing sense Love's fate will be in the hands of the Cavs' pursuit of their first NBA title against the Warriors.