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Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking the 5 most likely Cavs to be traded in 2018-2019

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 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 - JUNE 08: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 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) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 18: Head Coach Tyronn Lue talks with player Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Orlando Magic on January 18, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 18: Head Coach Tyronn Lue talks with player Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Orlando Magic on January 18, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Cleveland Cavaliers may or may not be a fringe playoff team, and if they’re on their way out, expect some player movement. But, who would go first?

Following LeBron James‘ departure, the Cleveland Cavaliers made it known a few months later that they would continue to strive for the postseason.

They made this further known when they extended Kevin Love for four seasons, locking him in for the next five years. Love took just less than the max and is under contract till he’s 34.

While his extension does make Love a more appealing trade target, I purposefully kept him off that list in hope that the Cleveland Cavaliers are different than other ‘loyal’ franchises.

The Cavs should look to avoid player disloyalty like the Raptors and Clippers were both accused of after trading star players that gave their all to that franchise. Players and fans eventually do get over the immediate sting, but this extension feels a bit different than either DeRozan’s or Griffin’s.

While the love for Love is exciting, it seems to be unique as Cleveland traded several beloved pieces last season. Players like Iman Shumpert and Derrick Rose were shipped out in hopes that their return would bring Cleveland closer to that coveted championship.

Well, bad news, it didn’t. Cleveland was swept in the 2018 NBA Finals. Cleveland didn’t really close the gap between them and Golden State at all.

This season they’re in a different dilemma. Their goal is the postseason, and if they’re not close to that mark come February, they should blow it up, retain their 2019 first-round pick and play for next season.

With that said, who is the most likely Cavalier to be traded?