Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 goals for the 2018 offseason
1. Explore Kevin Love trades to mix things up
Whether they re-sign LeBron James or not, moving Kevin Love might be the most sensical thing for the Cavs to explore this summer.
When LeBron James first announced his return to Cleveland, the trade to bring in Kevin Love was already in motion. When healthy, Love has been there for every step of the last four seasons and battled harder than anyone to help this franchise win games.
In Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the much-maligned Love made the defensive stand of his career, staying in front of MVP Stephen Curry to force a contested long range shot — a miss that protected the Cavaliers’ lead in the waning seconds to bring Cleveland its first ring.
Those defensive limitations are real, however. Love does not have the foot speed to stay in front of the fastest guards, nor the defensive instincts to navigate multiple screens quickly. His work ethic and hustle on the court are untouchable though, and at times he was the only member of the entire roster executing the defensive scheme in the playoffs.
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Even so, Love’s tools are simply not there to be an excellent defender, and that has caused lineup issues for the Cavaliers. They can sacrifice defense and rim-protection to play Love at the 5 in deadly offensive lineups. Conversely they can play Love at the 4 and have a stronger defensive player such as Tristan Thompson play the 5, a move which lowers the ceiling for the offense.
The current roster construction is too fragile to continue, and the rising strength of the Eastern Conference means the Cavaliers must shake things up — both to keep LeBron James in Cleveland, and to give the team another chance at a title. That means moving Love for a different player, one who can give this team a different look.
Would the San Antonio Spurs be willing to trade Kawhi Leonard if their relationship with their star forward breaks down? Multiple years of cost-control with Love could trump other offers from teams trying to send the Spurs younger assets. Would the Milwaukee Bucks send Eric Bledsoe and another piece? Should the Cavaliers call the Memphis Grizzlies about Mike Conley or Marc Gasol?
There may be other options available, from Portland to Dallas to Phoenix. What is important to the Cavaliers is changing the path ahead, giving James a new wingman to push alongside for another title or moving Love to blow it up should the King leave Cleveland. Love has been an integral part of the team for the past four seasons, but moving him may be this team’s best — and only — chance at another title.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers to make it back to the NBA Finals, they will need LeBron James to return. They will likely need to trade Kevin Love for a different sort of player. And they will need to reshuffle the roster on the margins to bring a new — and hopefully better — collection of players to the court next season.
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The past four years have proven that no matter how dysfunctional this organization looks they can still find success. James is that good. Will he return to give it another shot in Cleveland? If he does, the pressure is on to put the right team around him.