If LeBron pushes for Carmelo – Kevin Love trade, expect Celtics to be involved

LeBron James was seen squeezing Kevin Love tight on Sunday night. Any perceived bad blood between the two was quickly washed away by a championship cleanse.

As active as LeBron was during the NBA Finals, though, “The King” routinely dominates NBA off-seasons as well. The rumors of his own departure from Cleveland are already heating up, but the good money says that he’ll play the rest of his career in “The Land.” That will not be the case for Love. All signs still point to the power forward being dealt this summer.

Despite 14 rebounds in the Cavs’ Game 7 win, Love was atrocious against the Warriors on the whole. He averaged8.5 points and6.8 rebounds in the series.

LeBron has routinely said that he wants to assemble another Heat-like superteam with his buddies, namely the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, and the Knicks seem inclined to move on from Carmelo.

“I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together,” LeBron told Bleacher Report in February. “At least one, maybe one or two seasons — me, Melo, D-Wade, CP — we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that.”

A straight-up Carmelo for Love swap would no longer work as the Knicks would obviously be getting hosed. The trick is to find a third team to jump into the mix.

Deals that were nearly made at this past February’s deadline are being discussed again, and there’s certainly a possibility that theCeltics – Knicks – Cavaliers three-way that was briefly on the table might again pop up in talks. Here’s Frank Isola from the New York Daily News in February:

Carmelo Anthony remains committed to the Knicks for now, even if it means passing on the opportunity to join his long-time friend LeBron James in Cleveland.

The Daily News has learned that the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers havediscussed a blockbuster trade centered around Kevin Love. There were very preliminary discussions with the Knicks about expanding the deal to include Anthony, who would have to waive his no trade clause in order to facilitate a deal to the Cavs.

The Knicks would receive draft picks and players in return. One of those players is believed to be Timofey Mozgovwho five years ago was traded by the Knicks to Denver in the Anthony deal.

The Knicks desperately want in on this year’s draft and the Celtics own the No. 3 overall pick thanks to that Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett swap with Brooklyn three years ago. Meanwhile, Boston has coveted Love for years. The Celtics also have plenty of young, talented players they’d be willing to deal including the No. 6 overall pick from two years ago in point guard Marcus Smart and shooting guard Avery Bradley, who made this year’s All-NBA Defensive First Team.