Two games into the NBA Finals and it’s safe to say the Cleveland Cavaliers are struggling. They have been blown out by the reigning champs in back-to-back games, and it does not appear very likely that they can pull off four wins in five tries to win the championship. In fact, at this point the storyline may have shifted from wondering whether the Cavs could upset the Warriors to win the title to wondering if they can avoid being swept.
The fact that the Cavaliers have lost both games in Oakland is not surprising. After all, they were fairly heavy underdogs facing probably the greatest team in NBA history. But the manner in which a star-studded team is losing these games is concerning for Cleveland despite blowing through the Eastern Conference with little to no obstacles in the way.
Put in simple terms, Cleveland’s performances in games one and two have been embarrassing and if they continue throughout the rest of this series, there may be some major changes coming.
The name that is bound to come up in those discussions is Kevin Love. The Cavs’ power forward has been mostly horrendous in the first two Finals games of his career. Now, fresh off of a possible concussion, Love may have once again found himself in trade rumors, before even finishing the season.
Following from Chris Mannix of The Vertical:
Two wins to go for Golden State, and perhaps two more games for Love in Cleveland. A humiliating defeat needs a scapegoat, and Love walks around these days with a wide target on his back. If changes are demanded this offseason, Love will be the asset pushed in trades needed to make them. As one league executive told The Vertical, “If they go out like this, I’m betting on a Kevin Love auction.”
This is not an entirely shocking development. Love has been rumored to be on the trading block before. But the certainty and timing of this report sound ominous.
The Cavs are holding on to a star-studded lineup with little to no cap flexibility and yet, they look completely outmatched by the Warriors. Love’s defensive woes are well-chronicled but simply put, he has not been good enough on the other end of the floor to make up for his deficiencies.
Nevertheless, Love is still a good player and his performance in the Finals is not completely indicative of his worth as a player in this league. He has not been a perfect fit in Cleveland in his two years there but in a different situation, he could regain the form that had many believing he was the best power forward in the game just a few seasons ago.
Cleveland, meanwhile, could get fairly high level players in return for Love. If Oklahoma City provided the blueprint to beating the Warriors, the Cavs should be looking to add athletic and long wings capable of playing elite defense and switching to guard multiple positions. But those players are highly coveted by everyone and with Love’s diminished play, one must wonder if any team is willing to give up a lot of those assets in return for the power forward.
The Finals are obviously not over yet and anything can change. Even if the Cavaliers turn things around to the point of losing more competitive matchups, one could see management keep the team together and hope for internal growth and some luck. But with the way things are going now, it would not be a shock if Kevin Love was not wearing a Cavaliers’ uniform next season.
