NBA Thanksgiving 2019: What each team has to be thankful for

Cleveland Cavaliers

Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love boosting that trade value

Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson have been the two best players on the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, and luckily, they’re the two guys they would probably like to trade the most. Maybe the Cavs opt to keep two respected vets in a young locker room, but taking a look at the cap sheet, getting one or both these guys off the books would be a welcome move.

Thompson has less value than Love, but has been putting together a quiet career year, averaging 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. His $18.5 million salary could be difficult to move, but as an expiring contract, some middling or playoff team in need of frontcourt help might be tempted to bite as long as this current level of production continues. If not, Cleveland can just settle for his contract simply expiring without turning him into a tangible asset for the rebuild.

As for Love, while he’s missed a few games due to injuries, he’s still produced a team-high 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game when he’s been on the floor, shooting 35.7 percent from deep on 6.0 attempts per game. Moving Love will be difficult though, given he’s still owed $91.5 million over the next three seasons after this one.