It's been just over a week since the Cleveland Cavaliers had their season come to a disappointing end in the Finals, but they have already been very busy trying to improve for next season. Despite parting ways with general manager David Griffin, the Cavs are working to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Bulls and Paul George from the Pacers. Since rumors seem to be flying rapidly, here are all the latest ones you need to know:
Pacers not interested in Kevin Love, Cavs likely out of running
According to Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz, the Cleveland Cavaliers are no longer in discussions with Indiana about a potential trade, largely due to the fact that the Pacers are not interested in Kevin Love.
The #Cavs are NOT currently in discussion with #Pacers for Paul George, per sources. I am told however that George is moving "very soon."
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 20, 2017
Sources say #Pacers are not very interested n Kevin Love and would want a lot more...Not sure w/who, but I believe PG deal may get done 2day https://t.co/khNhLixFBL
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 20, 2017
Love is the best player that Cleveland is willing to offer Indiana for George, and the two sides had been engaged in trade talks after George told the Pacers that he will lead the team in free agency. With news that the Pacers are not interested in him, the Cavs can likely put any dreams of landing George to bed .
Cavs one of two favorites to land Butler
The Bulls are heavily shopping Butler before the NBA Draft and two teams have emerged as favorites to land Butler: the Cavs and the Boston Celtics.
CSN Chicago reports the Bulls aren't just listening to trade offers for Butler, they're actively shopping him. The Cavs and Celtics are the two favorites, though the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns have expressed some interest. One league executive told CSN Chicago "It's either Boston or Cleveland but he's going."
The Bulls offered Butler for the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft, but the Celtics turned them down. However, the Celtics would still need to balance salary in any trade for Butler. But the presence of the Cavs, if they can get through their current GM issues, means the Celtics might up their offer price. It remains to be seen what Cleveland can bring to the table.
Cleveland trying to use Suns as trade partner
The Cavs are trying to include a third team in either deal for George or Butler to further entice the Pacers and Bulls, respectively. According to Joe Vardon of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland is working with the Suns to be that third team.
Both teams would seek a high, first-round draft pick, which the Cavs do not have. Among the options Griffin presented to owner Dan Gilbert and front office personnel still in Cleveland involved Phoenix, which owns the No. 4 pick in Thursday's draft.
Phoenix does have a few other assets other than the No. 4 pick that could be included in a deal, namely backup point guard Brandon Knight, whose contract they are trying to shed. Cleveland is hoping that the Suns are interested in Kevin Love in order to make a trade work.
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