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Cavaliers acquire John Lucas III, Malcolm Thomas, Erik Murphy as assets for Kevin Love trade

Russ Isabella / Reuters

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Looking to acquire the necessary trade components for a larger-scope deal involving Kevin Love, the Cleveland Cavaliers have received three players from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a fringe guard, a draft pick, and cash.

As Wojnarowski points out, Lucas III, Thomas, and Murphy can be included in packages as preludes to a Love deal, or in a Love deal itself to give the Minnesota Timberwolves salary-cap relief. That's because all three players have contracts that are fully non-guaranteed, meaning they're assets for salary matching that an acquiring team can immediately waive.

The Timberwolves were reportedly ready to hang up the phone on any deal that didn't involve Andrew Wiggins, but the Cavaliers now hold more leverage in trade talks having acquired three players carrying non-guaranteed deals. It should also be pointed out that the Cavaliers are apparently interested in keeping Thomas, who could be an inexpensive frontcourt option.

Minnesota is reportedly keen to package Kevin Martin and J.J. Barea in any deal involving Love. However, Martin's unattractive contract has three years and $21 million left on it, while Barea has $4.5 million left on his expiring deal. What's more, the Cavaliers are somewhat short on salary ballast to make a deal including those two work, hence the juggling act here.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers, who have reportedly also been shopping for an experienced center in exchange for future first-round picks, want to include Anthony Bennett and a future No. 1 pick for Love. Any trade involving Wiggins would be unable to take place until 30 days after Wiggins signs his rookie contract (assuming he signs it before a trade takes place, which makes the most sense for salary-matching in a deal).

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