Cleveland Cavaliers: Updating potential trade partners for Kevin Love

#1 – Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers found themselves in the Western Conference Finals last season, where they were swept by the Golden State Warriors. That led to extremely high hopes for them entering this season. Unfortunately for them, it’s been a bit of a disappointing season thus far as they sit with a 15-21 record.

Despite the poor start, they are only a half-game out of the eighth seed in the West.

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With the salary they have committed currently, they have to be in go-for-it mode and at the very least make the playoffs. Acquiring Love would get them over the hump.

Portland can get this deal done without giving up the expiring contract of Hassan Whiteside also. Whiteside has been very good this season as he has averaged 15.7 points and 13.8 rebounds per Basketball-Reference.

The biggest question mark for Portland in making a deal for Love is whether they think Carmelo Anthony can play small forward again. He has been playing a stretch-four position since signing with them.

The Cavaliers may be reluctant to execute this trade without a draft pick attached, but they get two of three things they should be looking for in any Love trade. Their goals for a Love deal should be first-round picks, salary relief, and young players.

In swapping Love and Kent Bazemore’s contracts, they get off of Love’s monster deal and add Bazemore’s expiring contract. They also add the young, and cheap contracts of Nassir Little and Skal Labissiere. In Portland’s last game, according to ESPN’s box score, Little and Labissiere played one minute, combined.