The Denver Nuggets have long been interested in Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star power forward Kevin Love, who becomes eligible to be traded on Jan. 24 — according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.

Love is currently sidelined due to the toe surgery he underwent in November.

Before the season started, Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavs. He's owed roughly $145 million over the next five seasons but with Cleveland in rebuild now, some teams around the league believe the Cavs will look to move Love and his contract once he's eligible to be traded.

Denver has maintained a longstanding fondness for Love, which makes you wonder if the Nuggets will be tempted to make a win-now play for the All-Star forward amid their wholly unexpected rise to the top of the West.

Before getting hurt four games into the season, Love averaged 19.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for the Cavs while shooting 32.3 percent from the floor, 29.2 percent from beyond the arc and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line.

The Nuggets currently have the best record in the Western Conference. They have versatile veteran Paul Millsap at the power forward position. While Love is a more productive player than Millsap as both a rebounder and scorer, his injury history might make the Nuggets and other contenders hesitant to trade for him.