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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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Jan 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) goes up for a shot against the Utah Jazz in the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) goes up for a shot against the Utah Jazz in the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Nicolas Batum

Crowder is better defensively and the Pistons deal gives the Cavs more in return, so this idea is more of a backup option behind the previous two. However, looking to the Charlotte Hornets for their highly diverse wing who can do a bit of everything could be something to consider if the Cavaliers look to trade.

For Kevin Love (and possibly a low value wing like Richard Jefferson), the Hornets can send over Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams.

At times this season, Batum has looked like a borderline All-Star. Whether he’s gone off for 25 points or racking up near triple-doubles on a consistent basis, he’s been displaying his signature do-it-all skill set that we haven’t seen to quite this extent since 2013-14 when he was still with the Portland Trail Blazers. Now, though, he’s averring 15.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 35 percent from three with two makes per game. Few forwards are this well-rounded, and he can even guard multiple positions on the perimeter, too.

As for Williams, he gives the Cavaliers even more versailtity as a 6’9″ combo forward. Besides his athletic defense and rebounding rate (8.1 boards per 36 minutes), he’s shooting 36.8 percent from three with a career-high 1.6 makes a per game.

These two together not only give the Cavs another passer in Batum, but two versatile defenders who can easily guard every position from two to four with the ability to tackle the likes of Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard. This takes so much pressure off the shoulders of LeBron, and a little more rest for him can only help in a long playoff run.

For the Hornets, this gives them so much more frontcourt stability going forward thanks to Love’s contract, before even considering how much his go-to scoring and facilitating improves their frontcourt. Plus, with the clear decline of their center Al Jefferson in terms of both production and health, Love is a perfect offensive replacement.

Perhaps if neither of the previous two trade ideas can happen, the Cavaliers could look to Batum as another wing who can both facilitate and play as an 0ff-ball shooter on offense, while possessing the ability to be utilized in multiple ways on defense.

Next: 2. Going for a long shot

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