Toronto Raptors: Cavaliers present ideal centre trade targets

Kevin Love’s offensive skills match the Toronto Raptors style of play

While Jarrett Allen may be the belle of the ball, Kevin Love makes the most sense for the Raptors to acquire.

The Raptors’ offensive scheme is predicated on having five guys who can shoot the three. The threat of the long ball from every player on the court makes opposing defences honour each Raptor when he steps behind the line, creating more space on the inside.

If the Raptors were to obtain Love, this scheme would not need to be altered. Of Cleveland’s three centres, he is the only one with a viable three-point shot.

A five-time all-star and an NBA champion, Love is one of the most respected players in the league. His ongoing work to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health has only served to further the basketball community’s reverence of the former UCLA Bruin.

The three downsides that come with nabbing Love are size, injuries and that whale of a contract. At six-foot-eight, Love is undersized as a five and is currently working his way back from a calf strain. He is also set to make $31.3 million this season, and is signed for two more seasons at similar values.

However, Love has never let his lack of size stop him from cleaning the glass. He averages 11.1 rebounds a game for his career, and was the 2010-11 TRB champ.

Love is 32 years old, and hasn’t played over 70 games since 2015-16. But, when healthy, he provides exactly what the Raptors need: a rebounder who can space the floor. If the Cavaliers are shopping him (and by these accounts, they are) and Toronto is willing to eat that contract, they should make their interest known.