It looks like things are starting to progress in a Kevin Love to Cleveland blockbuster. The Cavs are starting to make minor roster moves to acquire tradeable contracts that can be included in a deal with Minnesota, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
Utah's trading John Lucas, Malcolm Thomas and Erik Murphy to Cleveland for Carrick Felix, future 2nd and $1M, sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 22, 2014
In Murphy, Lucas and Thomas, Cavs get three non-guaranteed contracts to facilitate trades — or a trade. Another step toward Kevin Love.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 22, 2014
This is the smaller deal Cavaliers have been pursuing in recent days to try and roll into the larger scope deal with Minnesota.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 22, 2014
Minnesota's been determined to unload Kevin Martin and JJ Barea in a Love deal — no easy task for Cavs to make work without a third team.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 22, 2014
As Woj mentions, acquiring these three non-guaranteed contracts will help Cleveland take Kevin Martin and JJ Barea in a deal for Love in case the teams cannot find a third trade partner. When teams start making moves like this, you can expect a trade to soon follow.