Why the Cavs should trade for Carmelo

The Cleveland Cavaliers should explore trading Kevin Love for Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony.

If the Cleveland Cavaliers are open to shopping Kevin Love, there’s one destination that makes all too much sense for the 6-foot-10 sniper: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While trading Love for young pieces would be a desirable option as well, Love’s trade value isn’t as high as his statistical output would have you believe.

The reasons for why that is, considering he’s been a consummate pro and teammate in his time in Cleveland while producing, are largely to do with his lack of athleticism and assertiveness in his time with the Cavs. Furthermore, with Love having up to two years left on his contract (he has a player option for the fifth year of the contract he signed with the Cavs in 2015) and approaching 30-years-old, the packages the Cavs will be offered for Love will be underwhelming.

On the West side, there’s a fading star in Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony who sticks out like a sore thumb in Oklahoma City, a team that needs a third star but one who thrives off-ball given the ball-dominance of Russell Westbrook and the simple need to get Paul George the ball.

Love, having experience in a similar situation with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, has shown the ability to fit in a role that Anthony has not. For a win-now veteran team, the move is about basketball.

For the Cavs, who would have to convince Carmelo Anthony to waive his no-trade clause with the promise of an alpha role and chance to enhance his value for the summer of 2019, attaining Anthony is largely about the cap relief they’ll get when his contract expires in the offseason.

After trading Love and Kyle Korver, the Cavs will need to waive J.R. Smith and George Hill, who each have partially guaranteed contracts for the 2019-2020 season. There would be enough cap room for a max contract free agent in 2019 after these moves are made.

Anthony would indeed be the alpha, and veteran leader, on a team with Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood (if re-signed) their most threatening playmakers. Even compared to his career-worst season scoring (16.2 points per game), no Cav in that trio has a better career-high scoring average.

Then factor in what will be 16 years of NBA experience, along with over 25,417 career points (third-highest career total among active players), 10 All-Star selections and a storied — if slightly underwhelming —career. He’s not going to be every fan’s favorite if only for public perception but he’ll have fans in the locker room.

While he, Sexton and Hood especially would need to develop an on-court synergy, learning when to attack and play off-ball, Anthony would be a solid one-year rental for Cleveland.

In the short-term, by trading for Anthony, the Cavs will continue to compete but will be in line for a lottery pick nonetheless considering the talent other teams have amassed.

In the long run, they’ll be in a better position to attain top talent.

It’s really a no-brainer.

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*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com