After missing 66 games last year with a foot injury, Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love is having a solid bounce-back year in his 12th NBA season. With the Cavs currently sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-16 record, it seems like Love's talents would best be used somewhere else.
With the Cavs likely to commit to a full rebuild, it's likely that Love and the four-year $240 million extension he signed in 2018 could be on the move. At 31 years old, Love's best days are likely behind him. However, the five-time NBA All-Star can still put up great numbers and could be the final piece for a team looking to take the next step.
The Celtics are a young team. Backup point guard Brad Wanamaker is the team's oldest player at 30 and since Wanamaker is in only his second NBA season, it's not like he can provide the veteran presence the team needs.
The Celtics are also one of the smaller teams in the league. 6-foot-8, 215-pound Daniel Theis has been the teams starting center for most of the season and while Theis has played fairly well, Love is obviously major upgrade.
Although he isn't bigger than Theis, Love is still one of the best rebounders in the league while simultaneously being a good stretch four.
If Boston can find a way to trade for Love while keeping their core of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — a Love addition might be what the team needs to possibly put them ahead of a team like Milwaukee in the East while also giving an aging Love the chance to play on a contending team.
Portland Trailblazers
After making the Western Conference Finals last year, the Trailblazers haven't had a very good start to the new season. At 9-13, the Blazers are out of the playoff picture in the West. However, it's still early in the season and with Damian Lillard still being one of the best guards in the NBA, it would be hard to think that Portland won't at least compete for a spot.
If the Blazers want to compete with the likes of the Lakers and Clippers, they'll need to add more talent. A Lillard-Love pick and pop duo could be exciting to watch and exactly what Portland needs to get back in the playoff hunt.
Devin Booker needs some help — it's that simple. And while the Suns have surprised this season as they currently sit in eighth place in the West, I'd bet they won't be there by seasons end. Offseason additions Aron Baynes and Ricky Rubio have been great for Phoenix but like the Celtics, the Suns are a young team in need of some veteran talent.
A Love-Ayton (when he returns from suspension) frontcourt is intriguing to say the least and would Provide Booker with some scoring and rebounding help.
Another one of 2019's most surprising team's the Heat, with offseason addition Jimmy Butler, have proven they are still one of the best teams in the East.
Meyers Leonard is a solid role player but he isn't exactly who you'd want as your starting power forward. Love would do wonders for a Miami team that ranks in the bottom half of the league in rebounding and Heat center Bam Adebayo would be a great frontcourt mate for a player like Love that isn't known as a great defender.
After a promising 2018-19 season where they just missed out on a spot in the playoffs, many expected the Kings to take the next step this season. That hasn't happened so far and to many, Sacramento has taken a step back.
Love would immediately fix the Kings rebounding problems (No. 27 in the league) and could be an excellent veteran mentor for 2019's No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III. The Kings already have solid pieces in De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield, if they want to compete for a playoff spot in the grueling Western Conference, they'll probably need another piece or two.
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