Kevin Love (Photo : Getty Images)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are rumored to be in works for a deal with the Sacramento Kings, but not the blockbuster kind of trade Cavs fans have been hoping involving DeMarcus Cousins.
The Cavs could be looking to add a handful of key players to further improve their roster this season, although any potential deal would likely require the defending champs to part ways with Kevin Love, who has been consistently linked to trade rumors because of his awkward fit with the team.
Love has struggled to put up solid numbers for the Cavs since joining them last summer, but it is not much of a requirement for the All-Star forward to contribute much playing alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. However, this season could be an exception for Love as several teams have drastically improved, including the Golden State Warriors, who acquired Kevin Durant this summer.
Many perceive that for the Cavs to counter the Warriors' Super Team, they must strike a blockbuster deal, mainly involving Love in a potential trade package. But recent rumors from the Inquisitr have suggested that the Cavs could consider trading for a trio of key players from the Sacramento Kings in Rudy Gay, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Ben McLemore, instead of prying out the bigger fish in DeMarcus Cousins.
The Cavs would probably have no problem dealing Love for Cousins, which works perfectly on ESPN's trade machine and under salary guidelines. But the Kings' serious intentions of keeping hold of Boogie could complicate matters for a Cousins-Love swap, thus making way for potentially acquiring talented supporting cast.
It is unlikely for the Cavs to give up Love for a set of backup talents when Cleveland could just look for other options that would provide them valuable players in return. But Cauley-Stein, Gay and McLemore could just be the pieces the Cavs are looking for to upgrade and fill the needs of their current roster.
Gay is a capable scorer and give the Cavs another offensive threat, but he would likely be more valued for his ability to cover up multiple positions, which essential once Cleveland plays a small-ball lineup. McLemore could do just as that at the backcourt, offering athleticism and versatility on both ends of the floor, while WCS would give Cleveland a legit center, who can also anchor the team's interior defense.
Overall, their contributions would be a huge upgrade over Love's one-way game. Ever since joining the Cavs, Love has been limited into an outside shooter and occasional scorer inside the paint. Most of the times, Love is lost in the team's offense, although he posted solid numbers last season, averaging 16.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Kevin Love says there will always be stories about his fit with @Cavs, but he doesn’t care https://t.co/fPx7bfwgB9 pic.twitter.com/14LOqxlH3V
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 1, 2016
Despite being heavily linked to trade rumors in the past few months, the Cavs are expected to keep hold of Love at this point. Likewise, Love believes he would stay in Cleveland for a "very long time," dismissing any of the rumors surrounding him. But anything can happen in the NBA, and the Cavs underachieving this season would only reignite rumors about a potential Love trade.
Video courtesy: YouTube/Golden Hoops
