Rival Exec: Cavs, Kevin Love Should Come Together On Buyout

Neither the Cavaliers nor Kevin Love are currently open to a contract buyout, and the sides have not discussed one, league sources told Hoops Wire.

But one opposing executive thinks they should.

“It’s the right thing to do. Kevin has wasted a few years of his career playing with a group that can’t contend, and he’s still capable of being a major impact piece elsewhere,” the executive told the NBA Analysis Network. “The right thing to do for him for his loyalty to the franchise would be to work out a buyout and allow him to join a contender while he’s still capable of playing a big role.”

Of course, right thing or not, it doesn’t appear a buyout will on the way anytime soon.

Late last month, agent Jeff Schwartz told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Love is not interested in one.

That followed a Hoops Wire report a day earlier in which sources said Love and the Cavs have not had a single conversation regarding a buyout.

“There have been no talks with Cleveland on a buyout, nor is there any interest from Kevin in doing a buyout,” Schwartz told Wojnarowski.

Sources told Hoops Wire that the Cavs have indeed attempted to trade Love, but to no avail. Wojnarowski reiterated that in his own report, adding that Love would welcome a trade.

One opposing general manager went as far as to tell Hoops Wire “there is no trade market” for Love.

“Kevin Love wishes it had been him and not (Larry Nance Jr.) who got traded to Portland. … Cavs are in a no-win situation with (Love),” one rival GM told Hoops Wire. “They’ve been in quite a few of those lately. J.R. Smith, Andre Drummond, Kevin Porter Jr., and now Love. Am I forgetting anyone? Bad look.”

Love, 32, is still owed $60 million over the next two seasons, and his future with the organization remains cloudy. Buyout discussions could possibly take place, but again, there have been no conversations to that end as of early September.

Love is coming off a season in which he appeared in just 25 games and averaged career-lows of 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists. A lingering calf strain is what kept him out of action.

It also impacted him during training camp with Team USA in July, resulting in Love leaving the team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

He could be facing a minutes crunch in 2021-22, as the Cavs acquired forward Lauri Markkanen in a three-team deal with the Bulls and Trail Blazers, as well as have center Jarrett Allen and rookie center/forward Evan Mobley on the roster.