Cavs Notes: Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Trade Possibilities

The Cavaliers would be fine with keeping Kevin Love after his bounce-back season, but given his expiring contract could also float him as a trade chip.

If not during the summer, then after 2022-23 tips off in the fall.

That was just one tidbit of notable news to come from Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor on the HoopsHype podcast. Here are a few more:

Fedor on Love:

“Him being in the final year of his contract and making around $30 million means it opens up trade possibilities for the Cavs. If they want to get involved in Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Tobias Harris, or some other higher-priced guys like Harrison Barnes, and they feel like they’d be a better fit, Kevin is their way of doing it. His contract matches some of these upper-echelon players that could be available in a trade this offseason.”

Fedor on others Cavs may have on radar:

“Here are the names that I’ve heard: I think both (Bojan Bogdanovic and Bogdan Bogdanovic) would make sense. Gordon Hayward, whose salary lines up with Kevin Love… Tobias Harris, Harrison Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., Jerami Grant, Aaron Gordon. And this is one that I’m watching. I think it’s less likely than it was when the postseason started, but it’s one that I’ve heard kicked around inside the walls of Cleveland. It’s Andrew Wiggins of the Warriors.”‘

(Along with those names, Fedor mentioned Mike Conley Jr. as a favorite of Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff.)

Fedor on a bringing back a veteran favorite:

“My sources tell me there’s mutual interest in that (Ricky Rubio) reunion. In fact, some people are essentially penciling him in as on the roster. I wouldn’t go that far with it. It’s complicated because even though he’s a great fit, there are some variables here. How good and effective is he going to be coming off a second torn ACL? You’re not going to get him until about midway through the season. The earliest would be November or December.”

For more, listen to the full interview below. I also wrote about Collin Sexton twice this week, both here and here.