A recent list of star players who could be traded before this season's trade deadline in February had Kevin Love and Chris Bosh in it.
According to SI's The Cauldron, Kevin Love's new contract will increase his trade value, and so will the team's decision to make him the focal point of the offense early in the season.
However, the Cavs were most successful in last year's playoff run with LeBron James playing the power forward spot. This is why they still needed to sign Tristan Thompson at such a steep price.
The Cauldron noted that "Thompson's defensive skillset and comfort operating without the ball makes him infinitely more suited to play center next to James than Love is." Love had difficulty playing off the ball after being the first option in Minnesota for his entire career.
His recent success is testament to that. When he is the focal point of the offense, he delivered All-Star numbers again. While that is a welcome development, it could be more of a selling point than something the team would actually use.
What the Cavs need is someone who is used to playing off the ball, is better than Love defensively to enable him to play center in "small ball" formations with James at the "four" position. That player is Chris Bosh.
This possibility has been discussed on a Real GM thread where it was mentioned that Bosh would play well with LeBron in Cleveland while Love would "look good with Dragic and Whiteside."
User 'R-Dawg' noted that this is "the type of move (Pat) Riley would make." The Miami Heat's franchise player Dwyane Wade is already on the decline and it's clear that he cannot carry the team anymore. Bosh has been taking the slack, but if they trade him for Love is ready to carry a franchise in the future.
"Love would excel in Miami with Dragic running pick and rolls with Whiteside protecting the rim. Plus they would save $2.5 mil in cap space per year moving forward." Bosh is also 4 years older than Love at 32.
Will the Miami Heat let the Cavs roll now and take Kevin Love for the future? Pat Riley may be set to make another blockbuster move that will rock the NBA.