01-24-2020, 11:47 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-24-2020, 11:49 AM by ClutchDirk.)
Kevin Love is reportedly playing nice.
The 31-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers forward "prefers to be traded—even though he hasn't made that demand" ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, according to Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor.
"I will be happy if I'm still here," Love told reporters following Thursday night's 124-112 loss to Washington, per Fedor. "I fully plan on continuing to help these guys, continuing to help—Tristan [Thompson], myself, Larry [Nance Jr.]—these guys, being a leader with all the veterans. And this place, Cleveland, the fans, they've been really, really good to me. So, yes."
However, Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported on Jan. 4 of friction between Love and general manager Koby Altman—the same day Love was visibly frustrated during a game against Oklahoma City.
"Water under the bridge," one former NBA executive said. "And Iguodala wants to play for a team with a chance to do something special in the playoffs. Ja is amazing and the Grizzlies have been a lot better than anyone expected, but their best case is a first-round knockout to the [Los Angeles] Lakers."
Speaking of the Lakers (36-9), they would happily welcome Iguodala if he's eventually bought out, but L.A. doesn't have a clear path to the 2015 NBA Finals MVP and his $17.2 million salary, with no first-rounders to offer and valuable contributors Danny Green and/or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope necessary to make a trade cap-worthy.
"We're not buying him out," an executive with the Grizzlies said. "We will trade him, period."
The 31-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers forward "prefers to be traded—even though he hasn't made that demand" ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, according to Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor.
"I will be happy if I'm still here," Love told reporters following Thursday night's 124-112 loss to Washington, per Fedor. "I fully plan on continuing to help these guys, continuing to help—Tristan [Thompson], myself, Larry [Nance Jr.]—these guys, being a leader with all the veterans. And this place, Cleveland, the fans, they've been really, really good to me. So, yes."
However, Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported on Jan. 4 of friction between Love and general manager Koby Altman—the same day Love was visibly frustrated during a game against Oklahoma City.
"Water under the bridge," one former NBA executive said. "And Iguodala wants to play for a team with a chance to do something special in the playoffs. Ja is amazing and the Grizzlies have been a lot better than anyone expected, but their best case is a first-round knockout to the [Los Angeles] Lakers."
Speaking of the Lakers (36-9), they would happily welcome Iguodala if he's eventually bought out, but L.A. doesn't have a clear path to the 2015 NBA Finals MVP and his $17.2 million salary, with no first-rounders to offer and valuable contributors Danny Green and/or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope necessary to make a trade cap-worthy.
"We're not buying him out," an executive with the Grizzlies said. "We will trade him, period."
Josh Green is a top 5 Mavs player...