NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Hint At Kevin Love Trade Talks; Cavs Secretly Shop JR Smith, LeBron James Teammate

By Mitch de Leon
Kevin Love
The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly target a Kevin Love trade with the Denver Nuggets. Keith Allison/Flickr CC

The Kobe Bryant retirement left a huge hole in the Los Angeles Lakers roster. While D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, Jr. are promising stars, the Nick Young team needs a veteran to lead them next season. Reports note that this veteran might just be Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The historic Game 7 win of the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Golden State Warriors failed to stop fans from wondering about the possibility of a Kevin Love trade this offseason. While LeBron James, JR Smith and Kyrie Irving assured that the former Minnesota Timberwolves star is not going anywhere, it looks like the right deal just came along in the form of the Los Angeles Lakers. Can the D'Angelo Russell team lure Kevin Love from the Cleveland Cavaliers to mentor young basketball stars in the former Kobe Bryant squad?

Rumors are rife that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been secretly shopping for a Kevin Love trade. With the massive deal they signed with LeBron James and the uncertain future of the JR Smith free agency negotiations, the Kyrie Irving team is in dire need of cap space to pursue other free agents. Will they use the Kevin Love trade as a bargaining chip?

The answer appears to be in the negative. At this point, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly keen on keeping Kevin Love. In fact, sports analysts pointed out the impracticality of a Kevin Love trade. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the former Minnesota Timberwolves star holds high value in the LeBron James squad.

"No name gets mentioned more frequently in trade rumors than Cavaliers forward Kevin Love. The problem with that is neither the Cavs nor Love are looking for a change," noted Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. He added, "People like to point to the sometimes awkward fit for Love on the Cavs roster, but the truth of the matter is Cleveland won a lot of games last season because of Love."

Kyler further shared, "While Love wasn't extremely productive in the Finals against the Warriors, he was very effective in the march up to the Finals and the Cavs know they won't get anything better than Love in a trade. It's something they have known for some time."

Although a Kevin Love trade remains an appealing possibility to so many NBA teams like the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, it appears that the Cleveland Cavaliers have no plans of letting him go. What do you think? Is this the best move for the LeBron James squad?

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