Cleveland Cavaliers' power forward/center Kevin Love has recently been the subject of NBA trade rumors ahead of the 2016-17 NBA season. Among the speculations is that the member of the U.S. national team which won the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship would be traded for Brandon Knight of the Phoenix Suns.
The trade aims to address the lack of depth in the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup as the team defends their title this season. It still has the current greatest basketball player today -- LeBron James -- but JR Smith and Matthew Dellavedova are no longer critical pieces, according to Chatt Sports Net.
Cavs May Lose 2 Critical Players
The Cavaliers lost Delly to free agency, but it was inevitable, critics said, because NBA observers believe Delly could only max out his potential with a different team. However, the Cavs would miss his grit and tenacity.
Smith is still a free agent a month before the regular season starts. He wants a salary of $15 million a year, but the team could only offer $10 million to $11 million. However, without Smith, the Cavs are undermined in depth.
The solution for the Cavs is to enter a trade deal with the Phoenix Sun wherein Love would be exchanged for Brandon Knight and Tyson Chandler. Knight, who was recently demoted to a sixth man role by Coach Earl Wilson because of injury, is a good replacement for Smith and also a great reserve for Kyrie Irving with his automatic 20 points a night and four to five assists.
Love Would Rather Be A Cavs Than A Phoenix Sun
However, if it were all up to Love, he prefers not to be traded and stay with the Cavs as long as he could. Although he is aware of the trade speculations, Love said he is not entertaining those thoughts.
"They'll never be gone. That's just something that you live with. We have so much hype and media and the good and the bad surrounding this team and it just comes with the territory," Love commented on the rumors, as quoted by ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Love -- who has an average game of 16.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists -- stressed he loves the team, the coaching staff, teammates and organization. He knows the challenge of being traded since he as the 5th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, the All-Star caliber player was traded on the same night of the pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for 3rd overall pick O.J. Mayo in 2008.
