NBA trade rumors percolate with 5 big names allegedly on block right now

PF Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

Year after year, we hear dozens of rumors about Kevin Love‘s inevitable escape from the Cleveland Cavaliers. And yet, year after year, it never happens. Is this the year he’s finally liberated or will the Cavaliers find a way to screw it up again?

It’s anyone’s guess at this point, but the interest from around the league remains a constant. The problem, as has always been the case, will be finding a suitor willing to give up something the Cavaliers actually want.

Discussing the situation on The Lowe Post, Wojnarowksi had this to say about the Cavaliers’ chances of finding a trade partner for Love:

"I think you’re looking at a marketplace where they’ll get, probably, a protected first-round pick and maybe an expiring contract and then maybe a throw-in player."

Will that be enough? Probably not. The Cavaliers are in the middle of a major rebuild, and will be looking to stockpile future assets. A protected first-round pick is okay, an expiring contract is nice and a throw-in player is whatever. Add all of that together, and it doesn’t quite add up to Kevin Love. Sounds like Cleveland would be getting the short end of the stick in that scenario.

Then again, what else would you expect with Love’s contract? He’s set to make $120 million over the next four years (including this season), a steep price for a 31-year-old forward who has always been seen as a co-star rather than the star.

The Cavaliers can keep searching, and will likely encounter some tepid interest. For the time being, though, I wouldn’t hold your breath in hopes of a Love trade coming to fruition.