The Cavaliers are a long way out from contending. Both Kevin Love and Al Horford have the same amount of years left on their contracts, so it’s not out of the question for Cleveland to eat Horford’s deal in exchange for draft compensation. Love doesn’t want to be there and has little utility on a team actively trying to lose.
Love is not an ideal fit in Philadelphia. He will get forced out of the post by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, while his defense is exploitable in a postseason setting. With that said, he’s a much better shooter than Horford, and for that reason alone is a drastically better fit in the starting five.
We have seen Love do damage in a spot-up heavy role before. He can benefit from the pressure Embiid and Simmons put on the rim, all while carrying the offense when Embiid sits. Love is better equipped to lead the second unit as a “backup center” than Horford, even if the lack of rim protection is potentially problematic.
This is one of the most feasible trades on this list. Cleveland has no reason to hold tight to Love, and there aren’t a ton of suitors for Love right now. The Sixers get better, the Cavs get a pick (or maybe even two), and everyone wins. Cleveland will have an unnecessarily large contract on the books regardless.