Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

[MalTalm]

Yeah, if Love wants that 2016 money, it pretty much guarantees he stays here.

If I'm not mistaken, if he were to go to another team this summer and then opt-out after a year, that team would not have his Bird Rights. Not even early Bird.

Now, that's not a problem if that team also projects to have cap space in 2016, but you would imagine that for Kevin Love to be even remotely enticed away from here, that team would have to offer him more than just him being the main piece. For instance, Boston couldn't just say "hey Kev, come play with Kelly Olynyk!" They're gonna have to pony up some salary for more guys to put around him. Which in turn caps them out. Which in turn leaves them no room to sign back Kevin.

He could theoretically force a sign-and-trade like LeBron did when he left Cleveland, and Griffin would do it because draft picks are better than no draft picks... But the point is moot. Kevin stands to make significantly more money by staying, he'd be competing for championships, and if his usage is a "grievance" it is something he could discuss with the FO and coaching staff in the off season to improve.

 

[Taiter]

I may be alone but I've been very disappointed with Anthony's career. I thought coming out of school after leading Syracuse to a title that he was going to become a champion pro, but to me he's just another super-talented guy who never won anything because he never learned to play winning basketball at the level he should've given his talent level. No one is winning a title with him as top dog. I'm seeing signs of Love growing as an all-around player. He ain't gonna be doing that in NY with Anthony.

 

[Captain S]

It might be a bit different than the majority view on anthony but I think his only years as a top 10 player were in 2013 and 2014

 

[TitleTown]

He could theoretically force a sign-and-trade like LeBron did when he left Cleveland, and Griffin would do it because draft picks are better than no draft picks... But the point is moot. Kevin stands to make significantly more money by staying, he'd be competing for championships, and if his usage is a "grievance" it is something he could discuss with the FO and coaching staff in the off season to improve.

It's hard to read any player, because they are trained by PR departments in their organizations on how to talk to the media. But I honestly feel like Kevin Love likes being here, and wants to stay here. This is a gut feeling based on watching EVERY one of his post-game interviews. Over a long enough time period, some measure of truth will shine through. I could be wrong, but I feel like he really is a team player and wants to contribute to a winning TEAM.

Additionally, he gets the most money and attention by staying here and playing with LeBron. Unless he's getting stupid advice from his family, I don't see him leaving.

 

[Otsego Mar]

I may be alone but I've been very disappointed with Anthony's career. I thought coming out of school after leading Syracuse to a title that he was going to become a champion pro, but to me he's just another super-talented guy who never won anything because he never learned to play winning basketball at the level he should've given his talent level. No one is winning a title with him as top dog. I'm seeing signs of Love growing as an all-around player. He ain't gonna be doing that in NY with Anthony.

I watched every game of the FIBA games (2012 I think? EDIT - wow it was 2008) where it was CP3, Wade, Carmelo, LeBron & Howard as the starters. One of the most dominant teams I've ever seen.

I remember watching Anthony and thinking he was the best offensive player of the 5. He really seemed to take it into another gear when he was playing with that level of talent.

Edit #2 - LeBron shot 46.7% from the FT line & 45.7% from the 3pt line! - WoW.

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08...IDs/6583/selNodeID/6583/fe_stat_playLead.html

 

[Pioneer10]

This is true of every player and every team in the NBA so I'm not seeing your point...

And I feel like every time someone brings up Carmelo they're just trying to get on my nerves lol. Did you miss Melo in Denver? His 2nd best player was Billups/Iverson (when he was on the decline) and he had a lot of success. You're underrating him drastically by including him in the same tier as Kevin Love.

Melo's Denver was way better then anything Lebron had in Cleveland. They had an extremely good frontcourt: Melo, Nene, Birdman, and Martin along with Billups and JR Smith.

 

[mhi]

Fun to see how much Love has improved defensively tho. His timing is no longer suspect and he's putting in the effort to be in position to challenge shots. It's almost night and day compared to the beginning of the season when LJ was giving him dirty looks for his D.

He still struggles guarding one on one postups, but a lot of that has to do with his height (players like to use their hook shots against him) than say, him giving up ground. That said, am sure he had Millsap looking in the mirror after that ATL game.

 

[iamacavalier]

Just about every time I re-watch a game I realize more how important Love is to this team. His passing is essential. Just finished the first quarter of the mavs game and his passing got 2 guys to the line. And was the reason Chandler had to leave early in the first quarter. Then he draws fouls often early against players like Dirk with his pump fakes and drives. Those stats don't show up on the score sheet. Also precision on his quick outlet (not home run) passes to push the ball up court is something not many players can do. And gets our offense going early. Favorite cavalier right now.

 

[westsidebob]

.

 

[Binkster]

Yeah, if Love wants that 2016 money, it pretty much guarantees he stays here.

 

[theSTEREO.]

Fun facts I ran across this morning looking up stuff for another post:

Since Feb 1

Kevin Love has the best Offensive Rating on the Cavs. Meaning the team scores more points per 100 possessions with him on the floor than any other Cavs player. (Followed by Lebron, then Moz, then Kyrie).

Kevin Love has the third best Defensive Rating on the Cavs (behind only Mozgov and Shump)

Kevin Love has the best Defensive Rebounding % on the Cavs by a mile (and only Tristan outpaces him in overall Rebounding %)

Kevin Love has the fourth best True Shooting % on the Cavs, ahead of both Kyrie and Lebron.

Translation, IMO: The guy is starting to pick it up.

RANDOM OTHER STAT: The team plays its fastest pace by far when Mozgov is on the floor. Amazing. What trade that was.

 

[Mdog1]

When you have two Love/ Carmelo level guys, you end up with the 2015 Miami Heat lead by Bosh and Wade. It's only by adding a LeBron do you get anywhere near contention.

The Lakers do not have a favourable situation at all. A third of their cap going to a guy who plays less than half a season, and no other talent to speak of. The Lakers can have all the FA money in the world, but unless they can convince multiple guys to go there.

If Love leaves, and it's LA or NY, I will laugh my ass off.

 

[Kizzle]

Man is 3rd on the team in defensive efficiency


From what he used to be that's amazjng

 

[Damien O'Connel]

I think he's finally healthy.

 

[SalvadoranCavsfan]

Melo's Denver was way better then anything Lebron had in Cleveland. They had an extremely good frontcourt: Melo, Nene, Birdman, and Martin along with Billups and JR Smith.

Not to mention they had George Karl as a coach, and I think most will agree he's a step up from Mike Brown.