Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

Jeez guys.. These negative Love takes are crazy..So many post that we can't attract star players in Cleveland, but here is a guy that signs long term with us and we bitch about his money..

Love contributes at a high level. Look at the Sixers game when he and Drummond are both on court.. we don't need him to be "the guy" right now, which in fact would be exactly wrong.. We need him to be the crafty veteran among the young lions..

Might we trade Love? Yeah we might trade anyone, but right now, this lineup has bought in and is delivering. Don't tinker with shit that works..

And as for Wade, I disagree with the hot take that he would not be playing minutes on a good team. Statistically he was better than average last year and he has steadily improved. He does a lot of little things well and plays tough defense..He is exactly what you want to find coming from G-League.. I think Bolden is also a gem in the rough. I Could argue get is already better than Maker...

My main issue with love is not his skill set its his rigidity. The guy cannot bend his knees anymore. He plays so upright its incredible he can move at all. This to me is laziness but I suppose it could be knee pain.

CleveRocks said:

Jeez guys.. These negative Love takes are crazy..So many post that we can't attract star players in Cleveland, but here is a guy that signs long term with us and we bitch about his money..

Love contributes at a high level. Look at the Sixers game when he and Drummond are both on court.. we don't need him to be "the guy" right now, which in fact would be exactly wrong.. We need him to be the crafty veteran among the young lions..

Might we trade Love? Yeah we might trade anyone, but right now, this lineup has bought in and is delivering. Don't tinker with shit that works..

And as for Wade, I disagree with the hot take that he would not be playing minutes on a good team. Statistically he was better than average last year and he has steadily improved. He does a lot of little things well and plays tough defense..He is exactly what you want to find coming from G-League.. I think Bolden is also a gem in the rough. I Could argue get is already better than Maker...

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The love hate stopped being a hot take years ago and he’s nowhere near a star. We don’t need love whiffing on defenders and clogging up the lane when he demands an inefficient post up.

CleveRocks said:

Jeez guys.. These negative Love takes are crazy..So many post that we can't attract star players in Cleveland, but here is a guy that signs long term with us and we bitch about his money..

Love contributes at a high level. Look at the Sixers game when he and Drummond are both on court.. we don't need him to be "the guy" right now, which in fact would be exactly wrong.. We need him to be the crafty veteran among the young lions..

Might we trade Love? Yeah we might trade anyone, but right now, this lineup has bought in and is delivering. Don't tinker with shit that works..

And as for Wade, I disagree with the hot take that he would not be playing minutes on a good team. Statistically he was better than average last year and he has steadily improved. He does a lot of little things well and plays tough defense..He is exactly what you want to find coming from G-League.. I think Bolden is also a gem in the rough. I Could argue get is already better than Maker...

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Cavs were better with Love off the court. They were better with Nance, by far.
He signed long term because he wanted to chill and get his pay checks and perhaps, maybe get traded to a better location. At the time of his signing he was no longer an all-star, and he certainly isn't now.

His skillset is redundant with how many floor stretchers there are today in the NBA and the fact that we have one of the best PFs in the league it seems like with Nance and now we have something as well with Wade who looks to be at worst a decent rotational big that can stretch the floor very well.

The lineup looking good has nothing to do with Love. Matter of fact is that he makes it worse because of his defense and lack of hustle. This lineup biggest strength is how hard they play and how much hustle points they generate. He makes us much worse in that regard.

Love brings us nothing, not even veteran leadership it seems like. He seems mostly fake to me.

I wonder if Miami might have some interest in Love...(I know its a complete fantasy)
I know they cleared cap space for next year hoping to get a big free agent but I think all the big names that could help them signed already.
I'd be willing to just take back salary to get him out of here...Olynyk, Meyers Leonard and Ryan Andersons amnestied salary.
Please?

Can you imagine pussy “I got a boo boo so I have to sit out this week” Love in Miami? No chance.

After LeBron left it was clear we'd need to rebuild. The Cavs instead gave a soon-to-be-30 Kevin Love a max contract despite him missing 20+ games in each of the two previous seasons.

We can criticize his effort and production, but you're mad at the wrong guy for he and his untradeable contract still being here.

Love is well into the back nine of his basketball career. He's made , and is making, tons of dough
for generations of his family. He got a championship ring. His body is broken down enough
to make him an overall negative on the court when he is playing starter minutes. He has found
a cause of interest outside of basketball.

Exactly what could motivate him to grind on what is left of his sports health playing for a team
that won't be a serious championship contender anytime soon for his window. He can say he
fell back in love with basketball during the pandemic but words are no guarantee of
actions on the court. But I see nothing that can make him hungry or turn back
the clock on his health.

He looks out of place for what the Cavs are building with their youngsters.

I've taken my share of swipes at Drummond, but he is obviously trying and contributing to
the team on both ends of the court.

Love- not so much.

I don't get why folks are saying Love is not motivated and is just cashing a check. I have not seen that. If that were the case we would not have seen all that frustration last year. His attitude would have been, "Yeah we're losing every night but so what - I got mine." Instead he was so frustrated he was punching chairs during a time out - not the actions of someone who doesn't care.

Love played for years on a losing team in Minnesota and for an NBA Champion in Cleveland. He's seen both ends and he doesn't want to finish his career on a loser. I believe he wants to play on a winning team and contribute however he can. When he gets back I expect him to blend in with the "young lions" and play whatever role JBB wants him to play.

When Love gets back he'll take Wade's minutes and it will make the Cavs better. He can hit 3's, he can score from the low post, he's an excellent passer and defensive rebounder. He won't run the break but he'll get the rebound and trigger it. He's never been a player that depends on quickness or leaping ability so he should age well. He can still get defenders in the air with pump fakes almost at will and draw fouls. He can bring a lot to this team but it will have to be in fewer minutes than in previous years.

Calf problems can be recurring (think Lonnie Chisenhall of the Indians). Love may be in and out of the lineup this year, but when he's in he'll give everything he's got and whatever is asked. He's not playing for a contract and has nothing to prove. He just wants to play with guys who play unselfish basketball and win their share. That's just my opinion FWIW.

Calf strain confirmed. Will be reassessed in 3-4 weeks per Cavs official Twitter.

My opinion, and nothing more than my opinion is, Love is Dan Gilbert's personal choice for the face of the Cleveland Cavalier franchise. I would doubt Love was given that untradeable contact without Gilbert's approval. Love was no less injury prone or less of a player then than he is today. To me, that's the only way that contract makes any sense at all.

Kevin Love delivered arguably the biggest defensive stop in Cavs history, which helped lock up a title. He committed he long term twice. He’s done great work outside of basketball with his mental health initiatives. I have nothing but respect for him and what he’s done.

That said, its time to at least consider whether his body will continue to allow him to play the game at a high level. A reasonable buyout is something both sides should consider. Kevin gets most of his money, gets to go live his life. Cavs get some savings and get to move forward. It’s best for both parties.

spydy13 said:

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I'm ready to leave him on the bench even if he is healthy at this point...

spydy13 said:

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In fairness, that suggests a significant medical issue, which doesn't fit the narrative of him being a pussy.