When Kevin Love was traded to the Utah Jazz during the offseason, most believed the veteran big man did not have much to accomplish on a young rebuilding team. The rumor mill quickly flooded with talks of a buyout for the former Cleveland Cavaliers legend.
Some in Cleveland even thought a reunion with a veteran locker room leader like Love would benefit the Cavaliers in the immediate future. The addition of Thomas Bryant to the frontcourt quickly dampened the chances of that happening.
Even so, the expectations that Love would be freed to join a championship contender remained persistent.