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Report: Cavs have talked to Grizzlies multiple times

By Quenton S. Albertie

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 2: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 2, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 2: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 2, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have had multiple conversations with the Memphis Grizzlies.

According to basketball insider Sam Amico of AmicoHoops, the Cleveland Cavaliers have contacted the Memphis Grizzlies multiple times ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft.

"The Cavs have talked to the Memphis Grizzlies on more than one occasion. I write that with a great deal of certainty. What we don’t know is what, exactly, those talks have been about."

This should come as no surprise because the Grizzlies, as Amico would note, have been shopping the 4th pick in the upcoming draft so that a team will take on Chandler Parsons’ severely overpriced contract.

The Cavaliers, who are trying to acquire an All-Star caliber player, could require a third team to facilitate the deal. A team like the Grizzlies, who are offering up a valuable asset in their top-five pick, could be one such team.

While taking on the rest Parsons’ deal will cost the Cavs $49 million over the next two seasons, there is likely only one player that the Cleveland Cavaliers have that the Grizzlies would be interested in trading the 4th overall pick for: five-time All-Star Kevin Love.

Ironically, Love was involved in trade talks that dealt with the 4th overall pick last offseason.

The trade talks, which were started by former general manager David Griffin before his split with the Cavs, would have seen Love being traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the 4th overall pick. The 4th pick would have then been re-routed to the Indiana Pacers, who would trade Paul George to Cleveland.

I proposed a similar deal that the Cavaliers could use to try to net a player like Spurs star Kawhi Leonard, in which the Cavs sent Love to “Grind City” in exchange for the 4th pick — a pick that would then be re-routed to Memphis.

In that proposal, the Cavs sent the Spurs both the 4th and 8th overall picks in the upcoming draft but it would probably be more amicable for the Grizzlies if they received the 8th pick and Love while the Spurs simply took the 4th pick.

While there’s no telling what exactly has been said between the Cavs and Grizzlies front offices, the 4th overall pick, the 8th overall pick and Love are sure to be the major talking points.

Regardless of whether the Cavs are able to trade for Leonard, they’ve attempted to trade Love multiple times throughout the course of his Cavs tenure and whether or not LeBron James leaves in free agency, Love is likely one of the first players who will be moved in the offseason if they start making deals.

Related Story: Cavs - Raptors trade proposals

Whether these talks have, or will include the Spurs front office — or a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder — is another story.