Kevin Love Trade Rumors: Cavaliers, Celtics Reportedly Held Talks at Deadline

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics held talks about a potential Kevin Love-to-Boston trade, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Lowe wrote, "Cleveland and Boston had trade talks for Love at the [February] deadline, though they died with Boston offering a low-ball package the Cavs wouldn't consider, according to several league sources."

Lowe speculated that if the Cavs failed to win an NBA title again this season, however, the team would likely trade the talented power forward in an effort to improve its chemistry and style of play.

Indeed, the Big Three of Love, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving has never really clicked.

Love's production has often suffered as the pick-and-roll offense featuring him and James remains ineffective—as Lowe wrote, teams simply switch and leave the Cavs in isolation sets, slowing the offense down. Meanwhile, Irving remains a score-first point guard and hasn't distributed to teammates, leaving James as the team's primary playmaker.

Despite those struggles, the Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference. Love still believes the team will kick things into high gear come the postseason, via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan:

Love, 27, is averaging 15.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this season. In six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Love averaged 19.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. In just under two seasons with Cleveland, he's averaged 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds.

If the Cavs did indeed put Love on the trade block, there would be no shortage of teams interested in landing the talented power forward. The Celtics have long been linked to Love and have a bevy of solid players and draft picks they could offer in any deal, so the fact that the teams reportedly had discussions isn't surprising.

For Cleveland, the ideal scenario is James, Love and Irving thriving together and winning titles. But if they fail to do so for a second straight year—a year marked by a clear lack of chemistry between the trio—the Cavaliers will need to seriously consider breaking up the band.

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