King James Gospel
Fansided

Why aren’t the Cleveland Cavaliers considering trading Kevin love?

By Doug Patrick

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena on January 28, 2018 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena on January 28, 2018 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers leaves the court after a 105-101 win in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers leaves the court after a 105-101 win in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Somehow it’s different this offseason. Rather than shopping Kevin Love, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly not entertaining offers for their all-star forward.

Kevin Love has been in the center of Cleveland Cavaliers trade rumors every year since he was acquired from the Timberwolves for number one pick Andrew Wiggins in 2014.

In 2016, multiple exchanges for him floated around from Boston to Portland but were never realistic. Last offseason, he was practically gone for Paul George when President of Pacers’ Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard changed his mind.

But now, in 2018, a year with so much uncertainty over LeBron James’s future, they are not including Kevin Love in a package to create a more attractive situation for the King. However, with the King off to LA, it’s now just up to Love.

In January 2017, he told reporters, “We need a f—ing playmaker.” Kyrie Irving was still on the team then. While Love can score in different ways, he’s never been considered a playmaker of Kyrie or Paul George’s caliber.

So, why are they suddenly holding onto him?

They’re using reverse psychology to raise Love’s value. Is that possible?

“Dear NBA, We’re not shopping Kevin Love because he’s too valuable. You’d have to offer us something crazy! Xoxo, Gossip Cavs.”

Maybe the Cavs are enticing teams to offer something for an ultra-important player they say they aren’t interested in dealing. We all want what we can’t have.

But these Jedi mind tricks seem an unlikely tactic since Love is pitching Cleveland.

He told Matthew Florjancic of WKYC 3, “Obviously, I’d love to play with LeBron for the rest of my career, but that will be a choice he makes.” Cleveland’s pitch to LeBron contains Love.

If the front office felt they had a better chance at keeping James by dealing Kevin Love this year, they would stop these reports and/or place him on the trade block immediately.

Quote unquote, locking him down seems a roundabout way of achieving this.