The Cleveland Cavaliers may be looking swap big men with the Sacramento Kings this season. Kevin Love, after signing his big deal and DeMarcus on the verge of requesting one in 2018 could take over for one another. Love is set to make $22M this season, while Cousins is still on the books for $16M. The money could work and to offset the difference the Kings may need to throw another player in to sweeten the deal. This will be a win-win for both teams but not both players.
The Kings have been quietly looking to trade either Cousins or Rudy Gay,but so far neither has moved. Cousins is the star in Sacramento and rightfully so. Her pers of 27 points and 12 rebounds places him in the top of both categories, then you add in his successful stint with the Gold Medal winning Team USA and his stock is high now.
Love, fresh off an NBA Championship last season is not the same player he was while in Minnesota. With the Timberwolves he averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds, but with the Cavs his pers have dipped to 16 and 10. Not a significant drop but you can tell that Love is still trying to fit in on a team he doesn’t fit with.
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The issue with Cousins is not production, it’s his attitude but that is to be expected when you constantly miss the playoffs when you’re busting your tail for 82 games a year and the front office refuses to bring in top quality players to help. Love understands the position Cousins is in as he had to deal with the same while in Minnesota. The Cavs will get one of the best low-post players in the league. Cousins is the anti-Love. He looks for the physical play, very emotional and if placed on a team that has title hopes, we may see a hustle side of him that we only got to see during the Olympics. Winning tends to do that to players.
Love will enter a situation in Sacramento that will not be good for his career. The Kings will add more to their payroll, lose Cousins and possibly another player then have to deal with a possible angry Love as he already moved up the food chain then be forced to do it over again.
Cousins, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James on the same team. I know we thought the same when Love came over two years ago but Love is no Cousins. If the Golden State Warriors can do it, why not the Cavs?