Are the Cleveland Cavaliers still dreaming of signing LeBron James?
Kyrie Irving is a desirable teammate, and this year’s No. 1 pick should produce another quality player. But LeBron will become a free agent in one of the next three offseasons. There might not be time to wait for a young player to develop.
But, hey, Kevin Love is available, and the Cavaliers showed interest in him long before he threatened to leave the Timberwolves. How about a deal based on No. 1 for Love?
Jackie MacMullan of ESPNBoston.com:
Love is under contract for next season without an option, so if the Cavaliers trade for him, he’d have little recourse. But as soon as next season ends, he could opt out and get the heck out of Cleveland.
By agreeing to opt in for 2015-16 as a condition of trade proposals to teams he likes more, Love could indicate his displeasure for the Cavaliers and avoid – or at least lower his odds of – a year in Cleveland.
It’s not clear whether the Cavaliers would pull a Sacramento and trade for Love anyway. What is clear: They shouldn’t.
Cleveland just traded for a star player heading into free agency and tried to sell him on its organization. It didn’t work.
In Irving and one of the Joel Embiid/Andrew Wiggins/Jabari Parker trio, the Cavaliers have a solid young core. If one of their other recent high picks – Anthony Bennett, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson – reaches near-star status, even better. But either way, there’s enough to build on.
They shouldn’t throw that away for a disgruntled Love.