There was a growing feeling that the Kevin Love to Cleveland Cavaliers talk was nothing but another juicy free agency rumor but right now it seems it's time to start paying attention.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made a move that would presumably enhance their trade asset flexibility in their plans of acquiring Timberwolves All-Star power forward Kevin Love, taking in three non-guaranteed contracts from a trade with the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
Utah's trading John Lucas, Malcolm Thomas and Erik Murphy to Cleveland for Carrick Felix, future 2nd and $1M, sources tell Yahoo. In Murphy, Lucas and Thomas, Cavs get three non-guaranteed contracts to facilitate trades -- or a trade. Another step toward Kevin Love.
Since LeBron James decided to come back home to Ohio and sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cavs front office has been adamant in acquiring Kevin Love. Murphy, Lucas, and Thomas can be part in trade packages as preludes to a Kevin Love deal or can be the pieces themselves in acquiring Kevin Love as their contracts offer Minnesota salary-cap relief giving them flexibility in the future.
Cleveland, however, maintains a desire in retaining Thomas, who could prove as a cheap role player to fortify their front-court depth, sources reveal. The team has to come up with different viable ways to keep their chances real in acquiring Love, who the Timberwolves have reportedly intend to package with the rather expensive contracts of Kevin Martin and J.J. Barea, several front-office officials told Yahoo Sports.
The Cavaliers trade discussion with Minnesota for Love have become more and more realistic with Cavaliers ready to include No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins in the deal. There are no other assets in Cleveland outside Wiggins that would make Minnesota pull the trigger on Kevin Love. The moment Wiggins signs his rookie contract, he cannot be dealt for 30 days.
The Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, have maintained their pose as one of the top candidates for Love, offering a package deal that sources reported has been the most attractive to the Timberwolves outside of the Cavaliers and a possible Golden State deal including Klay Thompson. The Warriors, though, continue to keep Thompson out in their trade discussions with Minnesota.
The Minnesota Timberwolves want Barea, who has $4.5 million left on his expiring deal, and Martin, who has three years and and $21 million left, as part of any Kevin Love deal which means that Cleveland's move to acquire three non-guaranteed contracts from the Jazz could prove as a positive step forward in their pursuit of the Timberwolves star.
Kevin Love has made it known that he would play for the Cavaliers if LeBron decides to sign with them. Now that LeBorn is back with the Cavs, Cleveland will now do everything they can to bring in Kevin Love to the team and pair him with King James and Kyrie Irving in a star studded starting line up that would possibly be the best in the NBA.
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