The Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to get past the drama that surrounded the team following the firing of David Blatt and get everyone on the same page. Despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers cannot escape the criticism as the works to get on the same page in time for a second-half surge. According to general manager David Griffin, that surge will include Kevin Love after trade rumors surfaced.
Following the firing of Blatt, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that most players on the team believed Love would be getting traded as well. The forward signed a long-term contract extension with Cleveland this previous offseason despite having offers from a number of other teams. However, he has yet to really find his niche with the group and many believed he had to go. Griffin is making it clear that Love is staying put.
"You'd have to go a long way to convince me that we're a better team winning in the Finals without a player like Kevin on our team," Griffin said, via ESPN 850 AM in Cleveland. "We've never once put together an offer involving Kevin, nor have we taken a call on an offer for Kevin."
Love was playing well to start the year, but his numbers have dipped since Kyrie Irving returned from injury. The forward has then made odd comments targeted at LeBron James and appeared to be on the outside looking in. Considering the Cavaliers own three trade exceptions, a deal could have worked, but Griffin is not interested in making a move. According to Windhorst, James, JR Smith, Matthew Dellavedova and James Jones all have no-trade clauses in their contract because of the way the deals are structured. That means a trade to improve will include someone else, but not Love.
"We think very highly of Kevin, and we believe Kevin thinks very highly of this situation," Griffin said. "But I can also tell you that we have been very clear from the beginning that there's no such thing as untouchables. You're either all the way in or all the way out in this process, and we believe our guys are all the way in."
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the player most likely to get traded is Timofey Mozgov. The center is no longer a starter for the team and is struggling coming off the bench. Mozgov has an expiring contract to his name and will be looking to get paid in free agency, something the Cavaliers are not likely to do. As a result, trading him could be the best option. Iman Shumpert is another player that could find himself involved in trade rumors should the Cavaliers continue to feel change is necessary heading into the deadline.
