NBA rumors: 5 teams that should be selling at the NBA trade deadline

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Love has been on the trade block for years now, and Andre Drummond literally hasn’t played since Feb. 12 as the Cleveland Cavaliers mull their trade and buyout options. Throw in all the teams thirsty for Larry Nance Jr. and the Cavs’ phones will be ringing heading into the NBA trade deadline.

The problem — and the reason the Cavaliers aren’t higher on the list — is it’s hard to see any of these players being moved, even with Cleveland in rebuild mode. Love is a useful, experienced stretch-4 who can put up double-doubles in his sleep, but he is also 32 years old, has only played in two games this season due to a calf injury and in addition to his $31.3 million salary this season, still has two years and $60.2 million left on his contract after this year. Given that he hasn’t played more than 60 games in any of the last five seasons, his trade value is nil right now.

Drummond is a beast on the boards, averaging a well-rounded 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game this year, but his $28.8 million contract is hard to make room for, even for the teams not interested in retaining him in his upcoming free agency. Why trade anything when he could be hitting the buyout market soon?

As for Nance, the Cavs are currently rebuffing calls about him, so it’d take an overpay of an offer to change their minds. Still, with JaVale McGee’s expiring deal and Taurean Prince on the roster, and the Cavs languishing away with their 14-22 record, it’s clear this team will be functioning as a seller at the deadline, even if it’s in a more limited capacity.