Who might be available if the Phoenix Suns go star shopping?
By Kyle Manthe
Kevin Love
In terms of players on this list most likely to be moved, Kevin Love would for sure be at the top.
With Cleveland already in the middle of a rebuild, keeping the near 31-year-old star on a max contract around does not make a lot of sense for them.
Given his declining production and the longevity of his remaining contract (three-years remaining) the value Cleveland should expect to receive is lower than Love’s real value as a player.
Due to the low cost, this could bring more teams into the mix for Love that would not normally have the assets to acquire a player of Love’s caliber while trying to contend.
The fit with Love and Ayton specifically would be an interesting one.
On offense Love provides an upgraded version of what we expect from Dario Saric this season, what Love could add on that end is a more effective post game and size that can play with or without Ayton.
Defensively, Love is nothing amazing; not a terrible defender but will also not improve over the time of the contract. That said, he is elite with his rebounding which does gives him more value on that end.
Unfortunately Love will not do anything to improve the already weak rim protection in the front court.
There also comes an injury risk with Love that might be surprising to some as Love has not appeared in more than 60 games since the 2015-16 season, and only 81 the last two years.
While that is a lot of missed time a considerable amount was due to injuries that do not significantly impact his athleticism, such as a broken hand.
A trade for Love would likely be an easy one for the Phoenix Suns to execute, but that alone does not make it a home-run easy choice. The upside with Love is the lowest of any big name player likely to become available, and his contract and advanced age could swing the value in the other direction.
Although, if the Phoenix Suns did decide to make a move, Love should be on the market soon enough, and come at the right price.