The NBA Champions are usually not involved in NBA trade rumors, but the Cleveland Cavaliers were placed in a unique situation.
The Golden State Warriors just assembled what is the league's scariest superteam. They have four players who are considered part of the top 12 in the league and the Cavaliers odds of defending the championship quickly dwindled.
Aside from that they still have a player that many believe is a questionable fit. Kevin Love is power forward who is not quick enough to defend wingmen but also unable to match-up against centers.
Paul Millsap is a free agent at the end of the season and the Atlanta Hawks made the mistake of attempting to trade him (they also made the same error with Al Horford, who's now with the Boston Celtics).
Now the Hawks could be placed at a disadvantage as Zach Lowe of ESPN illustrated.
"But Millsap now knows the Hawks tried to move him, and his trade value declines every day," Lowe said. "Trading a player like Millsap is painful. He emerged last season as one of the 15 or 20 best players in the league, at worst. But teams are looking ahead at the $110 million mega-cap and are thinking hard about whether age 30-ish players who will demand close to the max are worth it."
If the Hawks should cash in early to get good value for Millsap, they could sell him as a better alternative to Kevin Love. Millsap is stronger and quicker than Love and better equipped to play small ball center. He might not have Love's range at the three-point line but the Cavaliers have shooters of their own.
According to Wes Goldeberg of Today's Fastbreak, Millsap is the closest thing to Draymond Green. Green represents the Warriors' versatility to shift positions with multiple skills. This is something that Love could not do.
On the other hand, Love could fit in with the Hawks now that they have a textbook center in Dwight Howard. For the longest time, they got by with Al Horford (or even Millsap) as a converted five. Love could thrive well with a defensive minded center behind him.
Millsap is currently the better player but he is an impending free agent, while Love still has four years on his deal. There might be other additions to seal the deal, but in principle, this is a deal that could work.