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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Kevin Love deals Cavaliers need to make

By Tom West

Nov 23, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after making a three-point basket in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after making a three-point basket in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) reacts after his basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) reacts after his basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Trade for Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson

If the Cavaliers want the ideal two-way perimeter player, someone who can guard multiple positions, and someone who can actually stop those deadly Draymond Green-Stephen Curry high screens and hand-offs, this could be the best deal they can pursue.

In exchange for Love, the Boston Celtics send Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson to Cleveland.

If you haven’t noticed, Crowder continues to improve. He’s having the best season of his career, and he’s easily been the Celtics’ two-way MVP this season. He’s one of the more underrated players in the league, and his stat line of 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game with 36.2 percent three-point shooting hardly begins to describe his impact.

He’s easily quick enough to cover shooting guards and can even be moved onto some point guards at times if necessary. Thanks to his physicality and strong, 6’6″, 235 lbs frame, he can cover smaller power forwards, too (especially those who player nearer to the perimeter than the post). The Cavaliers could thrive with a reliable shooter and top defender like Crowder to back up LeBron on the wing, and his versatility adds even more to his value.

Crowder lowers the shooting percentages of his opponents from anywhere beyond 10 feet, and should come to Cleveland as a perfect 3-and-D player in a sixth man role. Johnson can contribute too, even though he’ll be limited to doing so in a limited defensive and hustle based role.

For the Celtics, they finally get to trade some quantity for a quality star in Love, who can be their go-to scorer behind the tireless attacker that is Isaiah Thomas. Of course Crowder is a big defensive loss and Johnson has been contributing in a starting role for the Celtics, but they’ve looked into adding Love’s talent in the past and they’ll have him for the next four years.

This could be the best trade for the Cavaliers to pursue if they decide to part ways with Love, as they get a versatile wing and another power forward to help fill in the frontcourt rotation.

Next: 4. A bigger multi-player deal

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