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Assuming Kevin Love is not going to stick in Cleveland. The Pistons have money for the next 2 years, the 3rd youngest roster in the NBA, and an unhappy Greg Monroe.
What package do you think the Pistons could put together to land him?
Here is ESPN's most likely trade partners for Love.
Cavaliers get: G Eric Bledsoe and C Alex Len
Phoenix Suns get: PF Kevin Love
See the trade
Why the Cavs would do it: James is as close to Bledsoe as any young player in the league, and they share an agent in Rich Paul. Plus, Bledsoe just happens to excel where the Cavs are weakest: defense. Bledsoe can guard 2s as well as point guards that Irving can't. Bledsoe is slowly shooting better from deep, and if the Cavs want to get younger and more athletic, this is the deal for them. At 7-foot-1, Len gives them a young giant who can take up space in the middle and provide depth for Mozgov and Thompson in case the latter doesn't agree to a deal this summer.
Why the Suns would do it: The Suns wanted Love this summer and now they have a logjam at point guard. This deal solves both issues. The tri-point guard lineup has actually been successful this season, but keeping all three players -- Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas and Bledsoe -- happy all season long might be too tall of a task. Dragic running pick-and-rolls in space with Love like he did with Channing Frye last season? That's a scary proposition. Plus, Len becomes a bit of a luxury now that Brandan Wright is in the fold.
Cavaliers get: PF Ryan Anderson and C Omer Asik
New Orleans Pelicans get: PF Kevin Love and C Tristan Thompson
See the trade
Why the Cavs would do it: This is my favorite trade of all. Anderson is Love lite -- an elite stretch-4 who doesn't give you much defensively. The good thing is that Asik can cover those mistakes. The Cavs would be taking a bit of a risk here with Asik being an unrestricted free agent this summer, but it's hard to pass up on a defensive talent like Asik. Under the right system, he can instantly anchor a top-10 defense.
Why the Pelicans would do it: The Pelicans have searched for another star to pair with Anthony Davis, and it's clear that Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon aren't enough to push them safely into the playoff picture. The Pelicans need to leverage their youth and play up-tempo basketball, which fits perfectly into Love's skill set as a defensive rebounder who can ignite a fast break. And then there's this: The Pelicans have been better with Davis on and Asik off (plus-5.6 net rating) than the two of them together (plus-0.8 net rating). Though New Orleans might not be the ideal market for Love, playing next to a generational young talent like Davis may be enough to sign him long term.
Cavaliers get: PF Draymond Green and PF David Lee
Golden State Warriors get: PF Kevin Love
See the trade
Why the Cavs would do it: Green might be the front-runner for defensive player of the year and can guard multiple positions. The Cavs currently rank among the bottom five in the NBA in defensive efficiency and lack the energy to dig themselves out of it internally. As a glue guy hungry to win, Green would be an ideal fit next to James and Irving. Lee makes the contracts work and gives them another offensive cog to come off the bench or start.
Why the Warriors would do it: Because they want to have their cake and eat it, too. The Warriors courted Love this summer, but when Klay Thompson was the asking price, they balked. What if they could get Love and Thompson on the same team without giving up Stephen Curry? The question becomes whether they're willing to risk disrupting the locker room and pushing all of their chips toward Andrew Bogut's knee. One thing's for sure: They can't afford to pay Green, Andre Iguodala, Lee and Bogut all eight figures annually. Dumping Lee's salary and getting a top-10 talent in Love back? Terrifying.
Cavaliers get: PF Serge Ibaka and C Kendrick Perkins
Thunder get: PF Kevin Love and C Tristan Thompson
See the trade
Why the Cavs do it: You want a defensive-minded culture? Ibaka and Perkins would do the trick. Losing Love and Thompson's offense will hurt, but the team needs an elite rim protector, and Ibaka does that better than almost anybody. Perkins might not help much on the court, but he'll strengthen a locker room that could split at the seams.
Why the Thunder do it: Would a reunion with former UCLA teammate Russell Westbrook make Love more motivated on the defensive end? Who knows. But adding a top-10 talent such as Love could help keep Durant in OKC long term rather than him bolting elsewhere. This would be a culture change for OKC, but Steven Adams' development makes this pill easier to swallow. Coach Scott Brooks needs a dynamic frontcourt scorer to help spice up his offense, and a team led by a Westbrook-Love-Durant triumvirate might score 150 points per game.
What package do you think the Pistons could put together to land him?
Here is ESPN's most likely trade partners for Love.
Cavaliers get: G Eric Bledsoe and C Alex Len
Phoenix Suns get: PF Kevin Love
See the trade
Why the Cavs would do it: James is as close to Bledsoe as any young player in the league, and they share an agent in Rich Paul. Plus, Bledsoe just happens to excel where the Cavs are weakest: defense. Bledsoe can guard 2s as well as point guards that Irving can't. Bledsoe is slowly shooting better from deep, and if the Cavs want to get younger and more athletic, this is the deal for them. At 7-foot-1, Len gives them a young giant who can take up space in the middle and provide depth for Mozgov and Thompson in case the latter doesn't agree to a deal this summer.
Why the Suns would do it: The Suns wanted Love this summer and now they have a logjam at point guard. This deal solves both issues. The tri-point guard lineup has actually been successful this season, but keeping all three players -- Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas and Bledsoe -- happy all season long might be too tall of a task. Dragic running pick-and-rolls in space with Love like he did with Channing Frye last season? That's a scary proposition. Plus, Len becomes a bit of a luxury now that Brandan Wright is in the fold.
Cavaliers get: PF Ryan Anderson and C Omer Asik
New Orleans Pelicans get: PF Kevin Love and C Tristan Thompson
See the trade
Why the Cavs would do it: This is my favorite trade of all. Anderson is Love lite -- an elite stretch-4 who doesn't give you much defensively. The good thing is that Asik can cover those mistakes. The Cavs would be taking a bit of a risk here with Asik being an unrestricted free agent this summer, but it's hard to pass up on a defensive talent like Asik. Under the right system, he can instantly anchor a top-10 defense.
Why the Pelicans would do it: The Pelicans have searched for another star to pair with Anthony Davis, and it's clear that Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon aren't enough to push them safely into the playoff picture. The Pelicans need to leverage their youth and play up-tempo basketball, which fits perfectly into Love's skill set as a defensive rebounder who can ignite a fast break. And then there's this: The Pelicans have been better with Davis on and Asik off (plus-5.6 net rating) than the two of them together (plus-0.8 net rating). Though New Orleans might not be the ideal market for Love, playing next to a generational young talent like Davis may be enough to sign him long term.
Cavaliers get: PF Draymond Green and PF David Lee
Golden State Warriors get: PF Kevin Love
See the trade
Why the Cavs would do it: Green might be the front-runner for defensive player of the year and can guard multiple positions. The Cavs currently rank among the bottom five in the NBA in defensive efficiency and lack the energy to dig themselves out of it internally. As a glue guy hungry to win, Green would be an ideal fit next to James and Irving. Lee makes the contracts work and gives them another offensive cog to come off the bench or start.
Why the Warriors would do it: Because they want to have their cake and eat it, too. The Warriors courted Love this summer, but when Klay Thompson was the asking price, they balked. What if they could get Love and Thompson on the same team without giving up Stephen Curry? The question becomes whether they're willing to risk disrupting the locker room and pushing all of their chips toward Andrew Bogut's knee. One thing's for sure: They can't afford to pay Green, Andre Iguodala, Lee and Bogut all eight figures annually. Dumping Lee's salary and getting a top-10 talent in Love back? Terrifying.
Cavaliers get: PF Serge Ibaka and C Kendrick Perkins
Thunder get: PF Kevin Love and C Tristan Thompson
See the trade
Why the Cavs do it: You want a defensive-minded culture? Ibaka and Perkins would do the trick. Losing Love and Thompson's offense will hurt, but the team needs an elite rim protector, and Ibaka does that better than almost anybody. Perkins might not help much on the court, but he'll strengthen a locker room that could split at the seams.
Why the Thunder do it: Would a reunion with former UCLA teammate Russell Westbrook make Love more motivated on the defensive end? Who knows. But adding a top-10 talent such as Love could help keep Durant in OKC long term rather than him bolting elsewhere. This would be a culture change for OKC, but Steven Adams' development makes this pill easier to swallow. Coach Scott Brooks needs a dynamic frontcourt scorer to help spice up his offense, and a team led by a Westbrook-Love-Durant triumvirate might score 150 points per game.
