Almost as soon as Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman suggested he planned to keep the “core four” intact, the trade chatter picked up anyway. Darius Garland to Minnesota or Orlando? Jarrett Allen to Dallas or the Lakers?

Truth is, those sound more like speculation than legit smoke — at least for now. Still, as Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor pointed out, the Cavs seem more open than in years past to at least listening. And at this stage, they almost have to.

The Cavs finished with the No. 1 seed in the East and looked like a legit contender after sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round. But they were bounced in five games by the Indiana Pacers in Round 2 — abruptly, and far earlier than anyone in the organization expected.

“So I just think when you’re at a point that the Cavs are at — with their roster, the way the season ended, and their salary cap situation — you have to start considering some alternatives,” Fedor said. “You have to start having very difficult conversations. Painful ones.”

Garland, a two-time All-Star, posted 20.6 points and 6.7 assists per game during the regular season. Allen played all 82 games, averaging 13.5 points and 9.7 rebounds. Neither guy is the problem, but one might be part of the solution.

Altman will listen. That much we know. But unless it clearly improves the team — or helps stabilize things — the core four might still be intact this fall. Then again, in today’s NBA, that’s a status that can change with one phone call.

For now, though, we should believe Altman. The Cavaliers and their core four of Garland, Allen, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley are highly likely to remain the future.