NBA Trade Deadline 2019: 5 buried veterans who could help a contender

5. Kevin Love — F, Cleveland Cavaliers

We might as well start with the $120 million elephant in the room.

That, of course, is the value of the contract extension Love signed this offseason, one that hasn’t even kicked in yet, and will last another four seasons…which is coincidentally the same number of games he has played this year.

The Love trade rumor mill is already starting to heat up, but it is, in no uncertain terms, a long shot. Earlier this month, I wondered whether Love had what amounts to the worst contract in the NBA, and that was before news came out that he was still weeks away from returning from the foot surgery that has sidelined him since October.

That timeline puts us very close to the trade deadline, meaning whatever prospective suitors may exist won’t have much time to see a healthy Love in game action.

Still, as they say, all it takes it one. While Love may not be “buried” on Cleveland once he returns, one has to think the team is going to be judicious with his minutes as they seek yet another preposterous lottery win. Some non-free-agent-destination team out there may feel they can jump on an opportunity to get a decent player – someone better than anyone available to them on the open market.

If all it costs them is expiring salaries and a middling pick, maybe there’s a deal to be had.