Cavs: 3 most unlikely players to return to the team in 2021-22
By Amadou Sow
This now-past season for the Cleveland Cavaliers started on a high note but quickly spiraled out of control due to injuries and mid-season changes. The team won just 22 games but the season was still filled with tons of excitement and many fans can see the roster’s potential for next season.
This offseason is one that I have looked at as the biggest one since LeBron James’ more recent departure. The Cavs have a good chance at being competitive next season if they make the right moves with those moves including additions as well as potential departures of some players.
It’s those potential departing players that we will talk about here as we look at three current Cavs players who are unlikely to return to the team, ranked from least likely to most likely.
We’ll begin with Kevin Love, who just missed being in that company.
Current Cavs player that just missed the cut: Kevin Love
Since the Cavaliers have started their rebuild, the relationship between them and Kevin Love has had its share of rough patches it seems. At the time of Love’s extension, the notion on the team was that they would look to compete after LeBron had left. Fast forward three years and we can see that this hasn’t been the case.
Love’s tantrums had brought a negative connotation to a young roster, giving the Cavs two options: Win now or move Love. The issue with moving Love and the reason why he missed this list is his contract. As stated, Love signed an extension, and going into the 2021-22 season, there are two years left worth about $60 million.
Considering his age (to be 33 in September) and injury history this contract is seemingly untradeable unless the Cavs were to attach multiple picks and/or a young player to him. The other option to move Love is a buyout which also does not make sense for the team, and according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, there have not been any potential buyout discussions.
Plus, Cleveland’s trending upwards and Love is still a positive player for this team. At this point, it makes sense to ride his contract out and keep him, and the team/Cavs general manager Koby Altman still reportedly viewing him as a valuable player is reasonable, given his shooting capabilities, in particular.