Kevin Love could reportedly be traded soon by the Cleveland Cavaliers, and if that happens, a potential Tristan Thompson trade by Cleveland could seemingly be delayed or Thompson could perhaps be kept through the 2020 deadline.
There was seemingly an added bit involving rumors surrounding Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love on Sunday.
That came during the “Woj & Lowe Trade Deadline Special” on SportsCenter, featuring ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.
The big takeaway from that for Cavs fans was Wojnarowski, who is as connected as anyone in regards to breaking news, trades, etc., giving his take on what a realistic return for Love would be for Cleveland in a trade.
Here’s what Woj said, as transcribed by Sports Illustrated‘s Sam Amico, who had a bit more to add.
"“I think (the Cavs) are looking at a marketplace where they’ll get back probably a protected first-round pick, and maybe an expiring contract, and then maybe a throw-in player,” Wojnarowski said, referring to Love.It was Wojnarowski who first reported the Cavs are ready to take calls on potential Love deals. That news came out the same day as a story by The Athletic that indicated not all members of the team are fans of new coach John Beilein.”"
As far as that return for Love goes, it’s far from ideal, and I’m sure Cavs general manager Koby Altman would realistically be looking for an unprotected first-round pick, but again, that could be a pipe dream now based on Woj’s comments.
That being said, I would really hope that Cleveland would not have to ship out one of their first-round picks in a possible deal attached with Love, which was reportedly said to be the case recently, too.
I fully understand that Love is just in the first year of a four-year contract worth $120.4 million, but he’s still a player that can really space the floor for others, get buckets in the low and mid-post, defensive rebound at an elite level and make plays for his teammates with high level passing vision for a big.
The Cavaliers need their draft picks in coming years, and I get that Love’s injury prone, believe me I do. He only appeared in 22 games in 2018-19, mostly due to reported toe surgery, but he is putting up a solid 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in 2019-20, according to NBA.com.
He also is an NBA champion, and has gained plenty of postseason experience in Cleveland.
Anyway, Amico also hit on how the Portland Trail Blazers, who Love would reportedly prefer as a trade landing spot in large part given he’s from there, the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz “have been linked to Love.”
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Amico also touched on how Wojnarowski said that he thinks Love is “ready to go,” and that he believes Love “could make it so that (the Cavs) feel like, ‘Let’s get him moved now.'”
Taking that into consideration, maybe the Cavaliers will move Love sooner than later. I’d still like Altman and the front office to be patient regarding Love trade talks, but again, maybe what Woj said relates to the Cavaliers moving quickly.
If that’s the case, I could see Tristan Thompson, who is an expiring trade piece for the Cavs, perhaps sticking around longer and moved right near the deadline, or Thompson even sticking in Cleveland through the 2020 deadline.
Thompson is on track for having career-highs in points (13.1), assists (2.3) and steals (0.8) per game this season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Basketball Reference.
He’s also the primary leader on the Cavaliers, alongside Love and maybe even more so than Love, and Thompson is always going to be relentless in his pursuit on the offensive glass.
TT is second in the NBA in total offensive rebounds this season, as noted by Basketball Reference, and again, his effort game-in and game-out sets the right example for young Cavaliers such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman and Kevin Porter Jr.
Thompson remains an outstanding screener both on and off-ball, too, and he seemingly could help contenders in the postseason, such as the Toronto Raptors, a squad he’s been linked to as our own Tyler Marling highlighted, among other teams I would imagine.
At any rate, moving Thompson, who is due to make $18.5 million this season, as noted by Spotrac, won’t be a simple task for Cleveland if that’s what they are eventually looking to do. A three-team deal could feasibly be the case in that scenario.
Moreover, if Altman and the Cavaliers do move Love soon, such as before the end of 2019 or so, it could seemingly delay a potential Thompson deal to more near the 2020 deadline on February 6.
The Cavs have always shown their appreciation for Thompson, who was drafted by them way back in 2011, and TT again, is such a veteran leadership presence and is a key big on both ends for John Beilein and the coaching staff that leads by example and is vocal. Given recent reports, I wouldn’t think the Thompson-Beilein exchange in a recent win over the San Antonio Spurs was a big deal, either.
Thompson, though I’d prefer if the Cavs could add a developmental big in the 2020 NBA Draft with a possible first-rounder as a return from a contender as a piece involved, I could also see Cleveland potentially holding on to through the deadline.
The 28-year-old Thompson’s commitment to Cleveland has not wavered, and though I’d still like the Cavs to deal him at some point if a return is reasonable to perhaps develop a younger replacement, if Love is dealt soon, Cleveland holding on to TT longer than maybe otherwise or through the deadline seems realistic.
Could I be wrong in thinking that?
Sure, but it’s just difficult for me to believe the Cleveland Cavaliers would move Love and Thompson in a pretty quick span, so again, I’d expect TT to stick around longer if Love’s moved by say, the next two weeks time.
Additionally, I wouldn’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility that Cleveland perhaps brings TT back next offseason.