KEY POINTS

  • Kevin Love admits he admires Bam Adebayo
  • Love may be hinting at wanting to be recruited by Adebayo to join the Heat
  • The Cavaliers may buy out Love if things cannot be worked out

Kevin Love is in the NBA trade rumor mill yet again although getting him will not be easy.

Considering he is owed big money in the coming years, it would take a huge deal to pull one this summer.

Love is in training with Team USA along with other league stars. It is a chance for him to chat with other players who he admires. Among them include Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat.

Surprisingly, it appears the 32-year-old is more than a fan of the 23-year-old All-Star center.

In an interview, Love revealed that he has an Adebayo jersey in his locker to go with his other collection.

“It’s a very select few, but I love how he plays. I love what he’s about, his story, where he’s come from, and just how great he’s done in this league in a very short period of time,” Love stated.

Ironically, Adebayo also mentioned possibly recruiting players since joining Team USA.

Connecting the two scenarios, it could be Love’s way of informing Adebayo that he is open to being recruited.

It would take much from the Heat to pull out a Love trade. The five-time NBA All-Star was initially pegged as the player to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise.

Unfortunately, nothing has come near of that happening due to a variety of reasons–one of which is injuries.

It would have to be a potential multiplayer deal to get Love to South Beach. In a mock trade suggestion from the Bleacher Report, the one-time NBA champion, Collin Sexton, and a second-round pick could be offered to Miami.

In exchange, Cleveland would get three players in Tyler Herro, Andre Iguodala and Goran Dragic.

LeBron James and Kevin Love
In this picture, Love (R) of the Cavaliers talks with James #23 on the bench during game two of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, May 15, 2018. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

If not through a trade, the Cavs could opt to buy out Love if they cannot work things out.

However, this would be the last resort that Cleveland may turn to consider the last thing they want is to lose more money.

For the Heat, Love is worth considering. But if finances are to be considered, Heat president Pat Riley may best keep tabs on the situation and see if a buyout does happen at some point.

NBA