Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (R) drives past Houston Rockets' James Harden. (Photo : Getty Images)
A new twist on the Kevin Love trade saga has recently emerged as the Houston Rockets are named as one of the potential destinations of the All-Star power forward this summer should the Cleveland Cavaliers lose to the Golden State Warriors in the ongoing NBA Finals.
Yahoo Sports reported that a "Kevin Love auction" could take place in the offseason if the back-to-back Eastern Conference titlists fail to secure the NBA crown for the second straight year against the Warriors.
The report said that "Love will be the asset pushed in trades needed to make" the necessary changes to further improve the Cavs roster that will be more complimentary to LeBron James.
Cleveland lost the Finals' games 1 and 2 via routs until Love was put into the NBA's concussion protocol after receiving an accidental blow to the head from Golden State's Harrison Barnes in the Game 2. It then rendered him unfit to participate in Wednesday's Game 3 at the Quicken Loans Arena, a directive that allegedly angered Love as the three-time All-Star stretch four is keen on playing every game of his first Finals experience.
The result, a 30-point blowout win for James and the Cavs, which have led some to conclude that the team really does not need Love to win as he is not a fit to Cleveland's style of play.
If trading Love this summer will become a part of the Cavs' agenda this summer then dealing him to the Rockets will not be a bad idea.
Fansided suggested a deal bringing the 2011 NBA Most Improved Player to Houston for "a future first-round pick and either a Trevor Ariza or Clint Capela type of player".
The suggestion would be more realistic if both Ariza and Capela would be included in the package, yet it still seemed unreasonable for the Cavs even though they are going to give away a player they think is dispensable.
Love should at least command fellow All-Star Dwight Howard in exchange, but Howard's impending free-agency will not make it possible.
However, if Love does end up in Houston, he could definitely be ideal for Mike D'Antoni's system who does not rely on defense that much but needs big men who can also efficiently score from the outside.
