Sacramento Kings Receive: F Kevin Love
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G Cory Joseph, F Nemanja Bjelica, F Jabari Parker, LAL 2021 2nd Round Pick (via SAC), SAC 2022 2nd Round Pick (Swap Best), SAC 2023 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected)
The easiest way financially for the Kings to acquire Kevin Love would to trade Buddy Hield, but if they are wanting to keep their backcourt trio of Fox, Hield and Haliburton together, then Sacramento will likely need to pull one or two other teams into the mix to make this trade scenario outlined above work.
The Cavaliers have no use for Jabari Parker or Nemanja Bjelica and there are numerous playoff contending teams who have been rumored to be interested in Bjelica, which is why getting another team involved in this deal should not be too difficult. Cory Joseph on the other hand is a player the Cavs could very much be interested in keeping through the end of his contract.
Joseph is under contract through next season and with the Cavaliers not really having much backcourt depth behind Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, they could actually really benefit by having an experienced, veteran guard like Cory Joseph.
Cleveland is a very young team and while they have potential to grow into something special, it will take time for this young core to fully develop with one another, which is why bringing in a veteran point guard like Cory Joseph could make a ton of sense. He is now in his 10th season in the league and has always been a pretty reliable second-unit guy, which is why he could fit in nicely with the Cavs.
RELATED: NBA Trade Rumors: Cavaliers would ‘love to move’ Kevin Love ahead of trade deadline
Adding Kevin Love does not sound like too flashy of a move, especially now since he is 32-years old and “injury prone,” but acquiring him definitely changes the dynamic of this Kings team. They have some really talented young players in De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Marvin Bagley, as well as some guys in their upper-twenties in Buddy Hield and Richaun Holmes who are vital players in the Kings’ core rotation this season.
This team surprisingly was not far off from making the playoffs last season and this season, while they have their work cut out for them during the second-half of the year, they definitely have a shot to make some noise. Adding Kevin Love gives them an experienced forward that knows what it takes to win, which could give them the extra “jolt” they need to potentially make a run at the playoffs.
The Sacramento Kings have not been to the playoffs since 2006, the longest active playoff drought in the NBA, but this trade could finally put an end to the suffering in Sacramento. Now, let’s take a look at why this trade makes sense for both the Kings and the Cavaliers.
