Los Angeles Clippers: Trading for Kevin Love is a good table setter

The trade:

The Cleveland Cavaliers recently extended Kevin Love to a four-year, $120 million contract. This move was pretty surprising, as Love was expected to be traded in wake of LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And while this could potentially be a move to keep the team relevant, it also seems like a move that is meant to increase Love’s trade value. Love is more than just a rental piece now and can warrant a larger trade return from a team, like the Clippers, who need a star.

Here is the deal that works out best for both sides.

The two sides would have to wait until January to make this deal happen, but if both teams are intent on going in their respective directions, then this trade makes sense for a lot of reasons.

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If the Clippers are trying to trade for a star that can lure in someone like Leonard or Thompson than Love may be the only option available. Other players, such as Anthony Davis or Damian Lillard, may become available but will likely be out of the team’s price range.

Love, on the other hand, only requires a few solid role players and a young forward to progress alongside Collin Sexton and company. Harris has not yet reached his peak and may only get better with the Cavaliers and Sexton.

The Cavaliers would likely require Harris to sign an extension in Cleveland after the deal but for Harris that makes sense. The Eastern Conference is much weaker and he could progress into the face of the franchise, with Sexton, and become a legit star.

As for Love, he gets to go back to the city that he went to college with some promising young guard and a potential superstar buddy to challenge LeBron James.

I personally do not love the idea of parting ways with picks, as I think it is smarter to just initiate the rebuild, but if the Clippers are intent on staying relevant then they are going to have to part ways with picks.

In return, though, they get a nice superstar that has proven he can be dominant as the number one option. With that dominance, the Los Angeles Clippers will actually become an intriguing destination for free agents.