KEY POINTS

  • The Cavaliers will attempt to trade Kevin Love this summer, a report says
  • The Philadelphia 76ers were mentioned as one of his potential suitors
  • No trade requests have been made yet, according to the report

Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers is often mentioned in the NBA trade rumor mill, and this coming summer won't be an exemption. Multiple teams have been linked to the one-time NBA champion, according to a report, but one ballclub may not make sense.

The Cavaliers want to move Love in a trade this summer, Hoops Wire's Sam Amico reported, citing unnamed sources. Potential suitors for the five-time All-Star reportedly include the New Orleans Pelicans, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers. International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

Love is reportedly open to leaving the Cavs, but no trade requests have been made, according to the report.

The Philadelphia 76ers were also mentioned as a potential suitor in the report, but the botched Al Horford experiment may make a trade unlikely. With a team centered on young guys like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, 76ers management should have learned by now that such a ploy may not work.

Love remains under contract for the next two seasons and is due to receive $31.2 million this year and $28.9 million in 2022. Factoring in the decline in his performance, a trade for him would be a huge investment for Philly that may not return dividends.

Aside from that, there is the health factor. Love played only 25 games last season, averaging 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24.9 minutes of action. Although he was considered as the new face of the franchise, Cavs management has yet to get anything out of the 32-year-old center-forward.

If the Sixers are persistent, a good move would be to give up one of their key players such as Tobias Harris or Simmons. But worth noting here is that Philadelphia would be giving up young talent who have performed far better than Love.

Among the team's players, the one in the hot seat right now is Simmons. The former top pick drew criticism for his performance in the offseason, particularly during crunch time.

Some pundits said they feel that it is time to consider trading the Australian and get someone willing to take the big shots and have credible outside shooting. But Love may not necessarily be a better option in this scenario.

The Cavs have a lot of work to do, and Love is not the only player mentioned in trade rumors. Collin Sexton has also been mentioned — possibly a sign that the Cleveland Cavaliers are in for a major revamp.

Kevin Love
Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Oct. 19, 2018. Hannah Foslien/Getty Images