Kevin Love Acquisition
The trade that completed the Big Three and propelled Cleveland to the NBA Finals.
The acquisition of Kevin Love by the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2014 marked a pivotal shift for the franchise. Occurring just one month after LeBron James signed as a free agent, this move was executed via a three-team trade that brought an All-Star forward to Cleveland. These additions, combined with existing All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, formed a new superteam in the East dubbed nationally as the 'Big Three.' This trio immediately transformed the Cavaliers from a sub-.500 team of the previous four seasons into Central Division champions.
- Acquisition Method
- Trade from Minnesota Timberwolves (via 3-team trade)
- Key Teammates Formed
- LeBron James and Kyrie Irving
Lore & Background
Before Love's arrival, the Cavaliers had struggled with a losing record for four consecutive years. The August trade brought in Love alongside James, instantly creating a core of three All-Stars. This formation changed the team's trajectory entirely; after a slow start to the regular season where they went 19–20, including a difficult 2–10 stretch within 12 games, the team turned their season around completely. They finished the rest of the way with an impressive 34–9 record. Despite losing key players like Center Anderson Varejão to injuries, such as his torn left Achilles tendon which ended his season in December, the superteam pushed deep into the playoffs.
In Their Own Story
The team's playoff run showcased the strength of this new roster. They swept the Boston Celtics in four games during the first round and defeated the Chicago Bulls in six games in the semi-finals. Their momentum continued as they swept the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in four games to reach the NBA Finals, marking their second appearance since 2007. Although the season concluded with a 2–4 series loss to the Golden State Warriors, who won their fourth championship and first in 40 years, the acquisition of Love was instrumental in reaching this level. Key moments included Kyrie Irving setting a franchise record with 57 points against the San Antonio Spurs on March 12.
Reader's Guide
The source details the specific contributions and outcomes of the 2014–15 season but does not cover events beyond the Finals loss to the Warriors or Love's tenure after this season. The narrative remains focused on the formation of the Big Three, the 53–29 regular season record, and the playoff run that ended in June.
Did You Know?
- Kevin Love was acquired through a three-team trade in August, just one month after LeBron James signed as a free agent.
- Despite starting the season with a 19–20 record (including a 2–10 stretch), the team finished 34–9 for the remainder of the year.
- Center Anderson Varejão missed the majority of the season and playoffs after tearing his left Achilles tendon on December 23, 2014.
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