Report: Cavaliers may not get big return in Kevin Love trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers are definitely going to deal veteran big man Kevin Love at some point before the Trade Deadline. The problem is, they may not get the haul they’re looking for in return. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe speculated on their Trade Special on Sunday night that the Cavs could only get a protected first-round pick and an expiring contract for Love. Woj called it a “throw in player” when describing what the trade could look like.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns were both mentioned as potential landing spots for Love in a trade. The Blazers desperately need help on the interior and additional scorer with Jusuf Nurkic sidelined. Both are trying to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race.

Love is currently in the first year of a four-year, $120.4 million extension he signed after LeBron James left town in 2018. It’s a hefty salary to pay, but that’s part of the reason why teams aren’t willing to give up much to acquire Love. They’d need to eat the rest of his contract, which includes three more years at around $31.3 million the next two seasons, and $28.9 million in the final year.

The veteran has become increasing frustrated on a rebuilding Cavaliers team under new coach John Beilein, who came from the college ranks at Michigan. He clearly isn’t happy playing with younger players like Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, impatient with those young players going through the learning curve in the NBA.