Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 impacts of Kevin Love’s extension

2. The Cavs can still trade Love

The Cavaliers’ hefty investment in Love reflects the team’s intentions to attempt to contend in the Eastern Conference for the next half-decade.

Yet, the structure of the contract leaves Cleveland with trade flexibility should it become a perennial bottom-dweller. Love is only signed to a max contract in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. For this reason, it may be challenging — yet not impossible — for teams to deal for Love in the next few years (he isn’t trade-eligible until six months after his extension was signed).

Let’s say things go apocalyptically wrong in Cleveland (not hard to imagine) and the Cavs want to trade Love for rebuilding pieces after the 2020-21 season. Let’s say Sexton busts, Nance tears his ACL leaping over Moondog the mascot in the Slam Dunk Contest and Jordan Clarkson continues to be Jordan Clarkson. Cleveland turns out to be the worst team in the NBA’s Central Division while the Chicago Bulls roll to five straight division titles.

(Sorry, desperate Bulls fan’s fantasy; back to the team that matters.)

Cleveland will be able to flip Love for building blocks following the 2020-21 season. Yes, he will be in his early 30s. Still, great rebounders and shooters tend to play well into their expected twilight years. For example, teammate Kyle Korver made his first All-Star game at the age of 34. Pau Gasol, another big man known for being lackluster defender but effective “boarder and scorer” has held onto value into his late 30s.

Hopefully Love’s career arc will resemble his current counterparts.