The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors are teams who battled the Eastern Conference Finals last season which the Cavs won. Rumors are now spreading that both teams are being linked to a rumored deal that involves Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert as the centerpiece of the trade. Will the rivals of the EC Finals last season make this deal?
The Cavs are one of the busiest teams in the offseason looking to valuable players that they can add to their roster that could contend the 'super team' that the Golden State Warriors build. And the Cavs knows that their current roster cannot match the Warriors if the NBA Finals will repeat this season.
Love and Shumpert are regular names in the rumor mills for the past few months. Many say that their poor performance last season has put them on the trading block. But the latest buzz has linked them again in a trade deal with the Raptors.
A proposed deal is being suggested to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors that involves six players and a future draft pick. Trade scenario is suggesting that the Cavs will send forward Kevin Love and guard Iman Shumpert to the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs will then obtain center Jonas Valanciunas, guard Cory Joseph, forward Terrence Ross, forward Patrick Patterson and a future first-round pick.
The trade deal pass the NBA trade rules and salary cap policy making it a legal deal as per checking with the ESPN NBA Trade Machine. Having a go signal with the NBA officials, will this rumored deal makes sense and beneficial for both teams?
The Raptors will finally get an All-Star power forward with Love who is on a recent rise proving critics that he can bounce back in last season performance. While Shumpert skills would complement the tandem of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan as perfect backup for them. It means that this is a good deal for them.
As for the Cavs, some says that the deal will help them improve on the defensive end will some disagree. The Cavs will have Valanciunas as a starter or a backup center to Tristan Thompson while Joseph will replace Shumpert as a combo guard. However, the trade will be a downgrade in PF spot for the Cavs with Channing Frye and Patterson only left in the position.
Ross will also be fighting for minutes with LeBron James and Richard Jefferson so he has no value to the team. And with Love getting his touch and rhythm in the early going of the regular season, the Cavs might turn down this offer.
Though the league official will approve the trade deal between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, it seems that the Cavs will pull the plug on this as they will be on the losing end of the trade. So Cavs fans can still see Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert in a Cavs uniform.
