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Cleveland Cavaliers: Trading for Carmelo Anthony is likely the next move

By Jonathan Macri

Feb 23, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) defends New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 119-104. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) defends New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 119-104. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) attempts a three point shot past Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson (90) during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) attempts a three point shot past Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson (90) during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

No Comparison

Despite his fit on the floor against this Warriors team, one thing isn’t in dispute: Kevin Love is far better basketball asset than Carmelo Anthony.

Aside from being almost four and a half years younger, Kevin Love is $3.5 million cheaper per season, and is locked up for an additional year. More to the point, if Love were made available tomorrow, teams would be lining up to offer real assets in exchange. The same cannot be said about Anthony.

As a result, whenever some delusional Knicks fan or desperate beat writer brings up a Melo for Love swap, such talk gets shot down before it has a chance to gain steam. Every such discussion, however, centers essentially around a one for one tradeoff, possibly with some spare parts involved to make the salaries work.

Despite what we just witnessed in these Finals, a one for one swap would still be a ludicrous overreaction by Cleveland. Breaking up a team that has made three consecutive Finals is not something one ever does lightly, let alone for a player with as many question marks as Anthony.

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