Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors on Kevin Love emerge once again after it became too obvious that he is not a good fit with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It does not mean that Love is a bad player, but the Cavaliers were just more efficient in the match-up with the Golden State Warriors, as Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer explained.
"His absence last night initiated a domino effect throughout the rest of the team, sliding players to more natural positions on the floor and more natural roles in the rotation, a dynamic accentuated by the Warriors' style of play," Tjarks said. "Cleveland has a different identity without Love in the starting lineup, and the result of the change is a team that better matches up with Golden State."
The thing is, with more and more teams imitating the Golden State model, it's likely that the Cavs could perform better against other teams without Kevin Love. What's more, Tom Ziller of SB Nation says that trading Kevin Love will allow the Cavs to get his contributions from cheaper sources.
"You can find cheaper options to give what Love offers and avoid the discomfort when you have to sit them against the best teams," Ziller wrote.
The debate among analysts in the NBA now is what to do when Love returns in Game 4 (and he will). Most of them suggest using Love as a sixth man after the auspicious start that the Cavs had with Richard Jefferson starting and LeBron at the four spot. It seems awkward to pay $ 20 million to someone who comes off the bench (which was why the Cavs started Tristan Thompson now).
Another issue for the Cavs is that center Timofey Mozgov is likely gone. True, Mozgov lacked the mobility to match what the Cavs wanted to do, but they do lack a rim protector when Thompson sits (Channing Frye isn't one).
The practical solution is to trade Love for a true center and the Philadelphia 76ers happen to be dangling two of them. Ziller suggested Jahlil Okafor and the Sixers 2018 Draft pick, but the Cavs can swing for Nerlens Noel-not as efficient offensively but more in the mold of a rim protector, and one of the Sixers late first round picks.
This scenario would propel Love to alpha dog status again and the Sixers will have a star-possibly an All-Star again. The Cavs will improve their defense and have LeBron play more power forward-which is when they are most efficient.
