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If Cavs fold, expect a “Kevin Love auction”

Chuck - Red's Army June 6, 2016 Around the NBA 21 Comments

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

If the Warriors continue with their thrashing of the Cavaliers (and I dare you to find someone who gives Cleveland a realistic shot), then the rebuilding of the Cavs will be a major story this off-season. As one league executive told Chris Mannix, Love will be the guy to go:

No player entered this series with more to prove than Love, a bystander last June, a lightning rod for criticism today. Critics of Love’s defense declared that he would be a liability on that end of the floor, and Golden State has sought to exploit Love routinely, forcing him to defend on switches, pressuring him to be crisp with his rotations. The Warriors’ offensive outbursts this series aren’t all on Love, but here, his weaknesses are glaring.

Offense, scoring, that’s Love’s strength, where he earns his $20 million salary, but where has that Kevin Love gone? Five points on 2-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes and Love could not have been more invisible. Defenders don’t get much better than Draymond Green, but Love has looked uneasy against Golden State’s switching defense. The aggressive, assertive player seen routinely in the Eastern Conference playoffs has disappeared.

…

Two wins to go for Golden State, and perhaps two more games for Love in Cleveland. A humiliating defeat needs a scapegoat, and Love walks around these days with a wide target on his back. If changes are demanded this offseason, Love will be the asset pushed in trades needed to make them. As one league executive told The Vertical, “If they go out like this, I’m betting on a Kevin Love auction.”

No surprise here. The only question is – are the Cavs willing to take 50 cents on the dollar?

Maybe that lowball offer Danny Ainge made to the Cavs this year will look pretty good in July.

Do you think Love’s struggles are a result of the system in Cleveland? Or do you think he’s simply been exposed on the big stage?

Celtic Bro

I’ll take him for amir johnson, jerebko, james young, and 4 second round picks.
- Wootay
  
  I didnt see your offer but this is even better LOL
KGino

The guy is a power forward but Cleveland thinks he’s a 2-guard for some reason. It’s not all his fault
- Curt Hays
  
  53 consecutive double-doubles as a Power Forward. Nothing to laugh at. But he is made of glass.
swissflix

Certainly and hopefully not for the Brooklyn pick or for any future picks!!
Wootay

id give 16/23 either and a second round pick for Love~~~
Tom Webster

I would give the second round picks and Young but that’s all. He isn’t someone to build on.
BamaCeltic

This is the perfect time to get him for the cheap ..but with his huge contract I don’t think it can happen. KLove seems like a nice guy but I believe his confidence is shot , and that’s huge in Basketball. He will be the scapegoat no doubt ..but I think the Cavs just don’t know how to use him. He is more than a spot up 3 point shooter isn’t he ?? or maybe his huge numbers with the twolves were just him getting to be the man and jack shots up and now he doesn’t and it shows ….I think he could be good for us , but at the right price …his stock couldn’t get any lower I don’t think.
Michael Biscardi

I don’t think there’s anyway the Cavs go for it, but I’d offer up AB, Kelly, Amir and #s 16 & 23 for Love (http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=hre8ucn). Then either flip #3 in a package for Butler or try trading #3 and #35 to the Wolves for #5 and Dieng, and grab Hield there.
- Curt Hays
  
  yes, they’d go for it. That’d be a terrible trade on Boston’s part.
- Alex Costa
  
  Lol wow. Red’s Army should ban people for coming up with these trade proposals. You are kidding, right?
  - Michael Biscardi
    
    That’s part of the fun of speculating during this time of year. I like AB, but we know what he is: an oft-injured, undersized, albeit elite defender who’ll also chip in a few threes but still can’t play PG. He’d be the fourth best player on a championship-caliber team. I just don’t value him the way a lot of people do with Smart and Rozier on the roster. And if Red’s Army should ban anything, it’s commenting 190 times since the site started using Disqus…
    - Alex Costa
      
      You think I am overvaluing AB? No, I am not.
      
      Your trade proposal of Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, Amir Johnson AND picks #16 and #23 for Love is so bad. If I have to trade that three player package (INCLUDING those picks), I would save it for a much better player than Love.
      
      Not only that, we would have to take in Love’s contract, which that on its own, isn’t even worth it. Honestly, it is 8:30am right now, so I don’t even have the energy to list why Love isn’t even worth it.
      
      As for your little snarky comment at the end, that made as much sense as your trade proposal.
      - Michael Biscardi
        
        I’m definitely in the vast minority of Celtics fans in thinking that Stevens could figure out ways to get more out of Love while masking his shortcomings, but I think if you can acquire him for what most likely amounts to AB and most likely 4 rotation/bench players on a good team, you do it assuming the contract fits into Ainge’s future plans. I agree his contract is prohibitive, which is a concern, but it’s at least worth kicking the tires on if there is a fire sale and you don’t have to give up any Nets picks to bring him in. As for my “snarky” comment, I just found it ironic that someone who’s posted on here 191 times would suggest the site ban anyone for posting something (that wasn’t offensive), just because they don’t agree with it.
Mike C

Definitely pass on Kevin Love, and be thankful the Celtics didnt aquire him in the first place. “Injury Prone!”
- Astarot
  
  Exactly. His D is non existent and that’s why I didn’t want him especially at the price. He can still provide on offense but he won’t be the star, first option or a guy you want to build around. He can probably be 2nd option but I have doubts about his playoff production after what I saw this year. He’s never been in the playoffs before he was traded and he’s in his prime already. Sure he can catch up and become valuable but then again not at 20m/yr. and not at the scenario where you need to trade for him I don’t even want Ainge to make low offer. If he was an FA then you could try to lowball him but it ain’t happen.
jrleftfoot

Maybe its just me , but I hate his game. He defends like a cigar store Indian and has Sullinger`s lift.
- Astarot
  
  And Sullinger is what 6’9″ – 6’10” while Love is close to 7’0″ that maters to me if you look at Love’s D. Sure being 7’0″ doesn’t mean you’re great on D but still. .
tvor03

A good stats, bad team guy. Too bad.
DRJ

Every Boston fan should hope Kevin Love never plays for the Celtics. No team for which Love plays significant minutes will ever win a championship. He’s a fragile loser, and the primary reason is his lack of athleticism and defense. Just say no to ANY trade that brings this guy to the Cs.
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