The people continually bashing Kevin Love are absolutely ridiculous, from the Dion Waiters/Andrew Wiggins jock riders to the people that absolutely refuse to acknowledge that he is obviously playing hurt right now because he wants to contribute.
Lots of hate for a guy that is averaging 17.1/10.3 despite being improperly utilized in the offense.
Lots of hate for a guy that has a PER that is still above the league average (18.68).
But sure, don't pay the guy who historically puts up better numbers than what he has, who is only 26, who is still averaging a double double despite playing hurt all year and trying to find his place in the offense, who has shown a lot of improvement on the defensive end, who hasn't complained even though things haven't totally gone his way this year.
"Refuse to acknowledge that he is playing hurt." For the record he has never come out and said that he is hurt. A decent amount of players in the NBA have some sort of nagging injury that they have to deal with by midway through the season. If the injury was so serious I'm sure that the team doctors would be smart enough to insist to the coaching staff & front office that he take a rest. It is a no win situation for the team to have Love not play anywhere near 100%.
Hahaha. I love the progression from "Love playing hurt" to "Love playing hurt all year." You Love supporters are even more insufferable than the Love haters. Just admit that he has not lived up to expectations, he is no superstar, we are going to have to make the best of it, and hopefully at some point he starts to play near an all-star level.
Wow, he is still above the NBA average PER. Fantastic. "Top 5 in the NBA" to "Top 10", to average. Yep that's what we paid for. We are now ok with average. I Love you guys. Pun intended.
Your suggestion is?
We will be far above the salary cap for years and years.
So what do you do with Kevin Love and if you let him walk please explain your strategy for coming close to even replacing what he is providing NOW while he's "struggling"
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/sto...-salary-lebron-james-kyrie-irving-david-blatt
All he has to do is pick up his player option at $16+M, which would be roughly fair for both parties, given his play this year balanced against his career accomplishments. He has stated his intention to do so publicly. If he wants to do a one-year contract with a TEAM option to get a raise to $19+M, if I am Gilbert/Griffin I am open to that if only to keep him from sulking as he seems pre-disposed to do.
But as you say, if I am Gilbert/Griffin, I am not signing this dude to any full max contract after this season, given his uneven performance in a Cavs uniform. An opt-in at the fair price or a one year max will give the team the option to get something for him via trade next year if that proves to be the best course. It also let's him re-visit the free agent market under the potentially increased salary cap.
Losing him for nothing is not an option, so if they have no (secret) understanding in place for next year, trading him at THIS year's deadline should still be considered. I would be looking at Boston, who can provide significant assets in return for Love, and (theoretically) jump start their rebuilding process around a "Bird-like" player going forward. Might have to take back Wallace (prefer Bradley), but should be able to bring back Sullinger/Olynyck to replace the "stretch four" and rebounding capability and a first-rounder or two to replace vanished assets.
Just admit that he has not lived up to expectations, he is no superstar, we are going to have to make the best of it, and hopefully at some point he starts to play near an all-star level.
Unfortunate thing is that if Love hadn't struggled so much with his shooting in recent weeks he would have been an All Star, or at least should have been, over Bosh. Bosh doesn't deserve it anyway -- a volume shooting big man leading a weak defensive team and he can't rebound either. Sad that he gets named to the team based on reputation. Still a pretty good offensive player and good shooter for a guy his size, but he's not offering much else and that's reflected in Miami's record.
You realize Bosh is averaging 21/8 on 47% shooting and 38% from 3 right? He's definitely deserving.
And it's not like that Heat team is "terrible". 20-25 isn't bad considering how injured they've been.