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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Kevin Love

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) shoots for three points against the Boston Celtics during the second half in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 103-95. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Boston Celtics

Speaking of teams that could put forth a Godfather type offer for Kevin Love, the Boston Celtics have been on the prowl for a superstar for quite some time. Love rumors have swirled for more than a year now, and if general manager Danny Ainge hasn’t been dissuaded from acquiring him because of his underperformance this season, now might be the time to make a move.

In the deal above, Amir Johnson and Avery Bradley would bolster Cleveland’s rotation with capable, willing defenders that the Cavs would love to have in a seven-game series against the Warriors or Spurs. Bradley could replace Shumpert/Smith in the starting lineup, and since he’s shooting 35.7 percent from three-point range this year, there wouldn’t be a drop-off on the offensive end either.

Johnson would give the Cavs a little versatility for when their opponents go small, but if Cleveland really wanted to swing for the fences, they might consider a deal like this:

This might be pushing it for Ainge, since Jae Crowder is in the middle of a career year. Averaging 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 36.1 percent from three-point range, Crowder has arguably been Boston’s best player this season. Regardless of some nasty history between Crowder and J.R. Smith, the Cavs would love to add a defender and all-around role player of his caliber.

Unfortunately, this deal might be pushing it unless Cleveland included some form of future draft compensation. Bradley, Crowder AND Johnson would be quite a ransom for Love considering where his current value is at, even if the Celtics would also finally add the rim protector they’ve been craving in Timofey Mozgov.

On Boston’s end, trading Bradley would hurt, but it would clear the backcourt logjam for Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart. Love would give head coach Brad Stevens a bonafide offensive threat to play with, but he’d still have the personnel to keep Boston’s defense in the top 10.

More hoops habit: NBA Power Rankings: Midseason Grades

Keeping Crowder would be a priority for Ainge, but let’s be honest: even if he did have to include the 25-year-old swingman in a deal, wasn’t the whole point of stockpiling all these assets to turn them into a star player to build around? Crowder has surpassed anyone’s wildest expectations, but if Ainge believes Love can be back to his Timberwolves form, this becomes a no-brainer.

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