The Nets are at the top of Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love‘s list of preferred destinations in the event he is traded or has his contract bought out, according to Erik Slater of The Nets Report.
Love will be rooming with Nets star forward Kevin Durant during the U.S. men’s basketball training camp in Las Vegas ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, Slater added, citing a source close to Love.
Sources told Hoops Wire last week that the Cavs intend to try to trade Love this offseason, and that he too would like to find a new place to play. That said, no trade request has been made by Love and sources contacted by Hoops Wire don’t believe one is forthcoming.
“A Love-Cavs breakup has been looming since LeBron James left the team in 2018. It is no surprise that Brooklyn would be a desirable destination,” Slater wrote. “Love subsequently bought a waterfront apartment in Tribeca the same summer James left Cleveland and has long desired to live in New York full-time.”
Love, 32, has two years and $60 million left on his contract and is coming off another injury-plagued year, appearing in just 25 games and averaging career-lows in points (12.2) and rebounds (7.4).
In Brooklyn, he could replace Blake Griffin, who signed on after a buyout with the Pistons late in the season. Griffin will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
It is believed the Trail Blazers, Pelicans, 76ers, Celtics and Heat are among other teams with an interest in Love.
He has also been linked to the Clippers and Tyronn Lue, his former coach with the Cavs. But a source told Hoops Wire over the weekend that the Clippers aren’t interested in exploring a Love trade at this time.
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