The Cleveland Cavaliers were rumored to be interested in trading power forward Kevin Love in the offseason. Love’s name was mentioned in the trade talks involving Paul George when he was still with the Indiana Pacers. The power forward was also tied to the trade rumor involving Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks. When the Cavaliers pursued George from the Pacers, they tried to work out a three-team trade with the Denver Nuggets. Under the deal, George would have gone to Cleveland while the Nuggets would have landed Love. The Knicks, for their part, were reportedly interested in acquiring Love for Anthony.
However, the Cavaliers put all trade rumors involving Love to rest, with coach Tyronn Lue saying that the power forward will be an integral part of their offense in the coming season, with Kyrie Irving now gone. The Cavaliers traded Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick and a 2020 second-round pick. However, it remains uncertain when Thomas can take the court as he’s still recovering from a hip injury. This is where Love’s contribution on offense comes in.
Lue wants Love to become consistent scorer
According to Lue, he expects the 29-year-old Love to become a consistent scorer, saying he will have move opportunities on offense with Irving now gone.
“This year is going to be a big opportunity for him. We're going to play through him more. He's going to get those elbow touches again,” Lue told ESPN. Last season, Love averaged 19 points and 11.1 rebounds in 60 games. However, Love’s performance dipped in the playoffs last season, averaging just 16.8 points and 10.6 boards in 18 games as the Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals in five games.
Love’s poor play did not go unnoticed as he was called out by teammate LeBron James on social media several times for it.
Love signed a five-year deal
In 2015, Love signed a five-year deal worth $113 million with the Cavaliers after James personally convinced him to stay in Cleveland. This season, he is scheduled to earn $22.6 million.
For the 2018-19 season, Love has a salary of $24.1 million and $25.6 million in the last year of his maximum contract with the Cavaliers. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2020. Before joining the Cavaliers, he played six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he emerged as one of the best power forwards in the league.
