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If the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline passes and Kevin Love is still with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’ll be just fine.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com quotes Love in a post-game interview talking about trade prospects.
“I will be happy if I’m still here,” Love said following the 124-112 loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday night. “I fully plan on continuing to help these guys, continuing to help — Tristan (Thompson), myself, Larry (Nance Jr.) these guys, being a leader with all the veterans. And this place, Cleveland, the fans, they’ve been really, really good to me. So, yes.”
Love has been mentioned as an attractive trade prospect for multiple NBA teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers. Fedor indicates that Cleveland’s asking price up to this point may have been high.
From the very beginning, they’ve wanted to be “blown away” by an offer for Love, believing he has immense value both in the short term and long term.
This has been at odds with the assessments of opposing teams.
They [the Cavaliers] unsurprisingly want something — a young player, first-round pick, both — in return. They still see Love as their best — and most important — player, one who could lift a playoff team even higher because of his floor spacing, shooting prowess and versatility. While they want value back, teams interested in trading for Love have that same stance, believing they’d be doing the Cavs a favor by taking his massive salary, which is worth $91.5 million in the last three years.
Love’s name has cooled down in recent weeks. This declaration of happiness with his current home could be part of a larger concession that, at this point, Love isn’t moving.
Love is averaging 17.4 points on 45% shooting, 36.6% from the arc in 31.4 minutes per game in Cleveland this year. His contract runs through 2023, averaging approximately $30 million per season.