CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The reality didn’t hit Kevin Love until it was brought to his attention following Monday night’s overtime loss against the New York Knicks.

Did it cross your mind that this might be your last home game?

“Naw, it’s funny, I didn’t even consider that, oddly, not until this very moment,” Love said. “It could be the same thing for a few guys here. Tristan (Thompson) didn’t play tonight, I just don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll let the chips fall, I’ve been saying that. But I expect to probably finish the season out here and continue to play extremely hard.”

Thompson was scratched because of soreness in his right quad. He felt pain during shootaround Monday morning and received treatment at the team’s practice facility. Without revealing specific names, Cavs coach John Beilein hinted at an absence ahead of the game. Thompson tested out his quad, went through his usual pregame routine and then, about 45 minutes before tipoff, getting some further examination, Beilein was informed by the medical staff that Thompson would be unavailable.

Has Thompson already played his last game with the Cavs?

Shortly before tipoff, multiple sources said a trade was “not imminent,” despite the speculation that picked up with him sidelined.

“It’s quiet right now,” a source said.

It’s worth noting that all of Cleveland’s executives were in their usual spot watching the Cavs-Knicks Monday night instead of being bunkered in the arena conference room.

Whether the Cavs deal Thompson, who they like and would want to re-sign to a long-term deal in the summer for the right price, will depend on the return. Can they fetch a first-round pick? That’s the price they’ve placed on him, sources say. If so, that would be tough to turn down, especially for a team that has been in asset-accumulation mode since the start of the 2018-19 season. What if a first-round offer doesn’t come? Would a couple second-rounders, similar to the Jordan Clarkson deal with Utah, be enough to justify moving their starting center, team leader and a valuable culture piece, one who has already formed a bond with building block Darius Garland?

Thompson is averaging career-bests in points (11.9) and rebounds (10.4). He’s durable. His effort doesn’t wane game to game, possession by possession. Many contenders could use his rebounding, screen-setting, non-stop energy and reliability. He does all the dirty work that often makes a significant difference in a seven-game postseason series. If teams strike out on Houston’s Clint Capela or don’t want to pay the enormous price for Detroit’s Andre Drummond, Thompson could be a nice fall-back option.

There’s another layer to consider when discussing Thompson’s Cleveland future -- if it extends beyond the deadline. How much is he worth in an extension? Do the Cavs think his salary demands will be too much and, therefore, find it better to flip him for something?

Larry Nance Jr. added a completely different dimension on offense in his spot-start next to Love. It was the 5-out offense that is so difficult to defend. The Cavs scored 134 points, shot 56.5% from the field, dished out a season-high 34 assists and tied their season-high in 3-pointers with 18, shooting 51.4% from deep. Yes, it was the Knicks. But Nance spaced the floor. He knocked down outside shots. He dished out six assists. Helped facilitate from the elbow. He grabbed boards and pushed the ball up the court -- a la Draymond Green the other night for Golden State.

In Beilein’s ideal system, his 5-man is Nance -- albeit a bit taller version. Beilein craves a 5 that can space and hit 3s while also providing some defensive versatility and rim protection.

Does Thompson fit that vision? If he doesn’t, will that alter his value in the eyes of the front office, which doesn’t want to give him a second massive deal? Then if that future summer offer from the Cavs isn’t lucrative enough, would Thompson -- and tough-negotiating agent Rich Paul -- take something less than expected just to remain in Cleveland where Thompson can continue to move up the all-time ranks and maybe have his jersey retired one day? Or would it make more sense to go to one of the few teams that has money to spend?

As for Love, not only was he in the lineup Monday night, but he delivered his best performance of the season. It probably does nothing for his trade value, of course, but it was a memorable hurrah if that’s the direction the Cavs ultimately go Thursday afternoon.

Love said after the game he hasn’t had detailed conversations with the organization about his future. They haven’t given him assurances that he will remain either.

“Early on, that good advice was just chasing the game and let everything else fall back into place, everything else good in life will chase you right back,” Love said. “Haven’t heard anything, don’t know what to expect, but not pushing anything either way, just continue to be me, I guess.”

Weeks ago, as Love’s frustration started boiling over, it was obvious he wanted out. Sources close to Love said playing with the Cavs was “driving him crazy” certain days.

His preference ahead of the deadline remains the same: He would like to be traded, a chance to play for a contender. But since that viral temper tantrum against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 4, Love has been good -- on and off the floor. Even though his effort on defense has varied like usual, Love hasn’t been a bad influence, he’s displayed empathy, apologized for some of his actions and has kept a teetering situation from tipping completely, which has in turn kept the Cavs from forcing a bad trade.

Over the last 15 games, Love is averaging 20.7 points on 47.5% shooting, 39.1% from 3-point range to go with 8.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

His play hasn’t led to wins, the Cavs lost their 11th straight home game. The season-high 33 points, 13 rebounds and six assists -- a 19th double-double -- didn’t on Monday night either.

But it’s the kind of play the Cavs were selfishly hoping for all season, believing he had a chance to revive his value after an injury-filled season in 2018-19. And Love did it with rumors running rampant.

The Twitter-sphere has already dealt him to Portland, Miami, Phoenix and Denver at various points. That’s one of the many things that makes this time of year tough on guys.

“It always is,” Love admitted. “In the past it was a little bit different feel because I knew 100 percent nothing was going to happen with me. It’s just a weird time every year with teams that feel they like they have a chance or are that one piece or two pieces away. The trade deadline comes in every sport, I’m sure guys are kind of sitting there waiting, have half a bag packed. You never know.”

While everything is fluid right now and deals could sweeten as the clock ticks toward 3 p.m. on Thursday, opposing executives getting antsy and feeling like they need to make the best offers, sources have insisted for weeks that a Love deadline deal is unlikely. Members of the organization have been under the impression that Love will bring more back this off-season because of the dearth of available impact free agents, the few contenders that actually have money to spend and some other teams recognizing they won’t be able to be big players in the exciting 2021 summer. So for those teams trying to make an early splash, where would they turn? The Cavs, among others, who have an available All-Star in a trade.

There’s also this: The teams that are focused on 2021 -- and there are a bunch -- aren’t going to willingly take themselves out of those sweepstakes right now for Love, who is owed $90 million over the final three years of his deal, has a lengthy injury history, is on the wrong side of 30 and now faces questions about his attitude and overall impact on a winning team given his defensive concerns, especially against quicker 4s.

Maybe that strong offer the Cavs aren’t currently expecting -- a combination of picks and players, perhaps both -- comes Thursday. If that’s the case, that would obviously change their plan. But the Cavs, sources say, will not do a salary dump -- even if other teams view a Love deal as them helping the Cavs, not the other way around. Cleveland isn’t interested in attaching a pick to Love. The franchise still views him as its best player, the most valuable trade chip.

“Since the second I got here I’ve been in those talks,” Love said with a smile. “It’s easy for me, I’ve settled into who I am as a basketball player and a person, so I’m easy.”

Everything stayed the same for Love on Monday night. He didn’t drive to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse reflecting on his favorite moments with the Cavs. He never felt that it was his last drive from his Bratenahl home to the arena. Even when the Cavs showed highlights of one of Love’s many famous outlet passes to LeBron James, this one that led to an improbable buzzer-beater against the Washington Wizards a few years back, Love didn’t believe it was a sendoff.

So, what about at this point, now that it was brought up that the Cavs won’t be playing another home game until this weekend, a few days removed from the deadline?

“I guess it’s like, I just don’t believe it,” Love said. “Whether it’s five years when my time is done here, I’ll reflect on how amazing it is and was. I’ve just known so many great people here and had so many great moments. The way they were showing it on the screen tonight, the good old days. I don’t know, I guess I’m at a loss for words, but I didn’t even really think about it like it was.”

After Love got dressed, he slipped out the door that leads to the exit, through the player’s lounge.

“See you in Oklahoma City,” he said.

That’s Cleveland’s next game. It’s Wednesday night, hours before the deadline. Love plans to be in a Cavs uniform for that game. Actually, he’s thinking he be wearing it beyond that as well.

“I don’t think anything is going to happen,” Love told cleveland.com. “I really don’t, but we’ll see.”

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