Interesting story over on Reddit re: Kevin Love's value. IMO, this was another miscalculation by the FO like the JR contract. The plan was to sign Kevin to an extension which would drive up his perceived value because he would be locked into a long term contract. The problem is he has spent the last two years getting exposed as one way player in a position now manned by wings. His ceiling to a contender (presumably his market) is at most as a third option who may have to play limited minutes if said contender makes it to the Conference Finals or beyond.
Here's to hopping the likes of Miami or Minny get desperate enough...
Kevin Love provides real organizational value/. You literally have to spend your cap room on SOMEBODY. And Love's ceiling in terms of a trade value piece was and still is way higher than anything else you're signing for that money.
All it takes is 2-3 healthy months of an efficient 19-12-4 on 40% from 3 and a playoff team either 1. Thinking they're 1 move away from being title contenders or 2. getting desperate to fix their situation. He's also a great locker room guy who understands the sacrifice necessary.
Kevin Love's contract isn't even that bad. In a league where you have John Wall, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, etc making 38/40/42/45/47 million increasing every year.
Kevin Love is making 29 million dollars this year. then 31/31/29 for the rest of his deal. Hassan Whiteside is making like 25 million dollars this year, for comparison. Kevin is only turning 31. He will only be 34 at the end of his contract. 34 is not that old--it may be close to the end of a guy like Love's career
His contract simply is not some albatross anchor tearing down our franchise. We're rebuilding anyway and he's a valuable cultural piece and means something to this fanbase.
Obviously his tendency to end up with nagging injuries on a consistent basis is the worst part of his value. But in an era of load management and minute restrictions and taking back-to-backs off, he should be fine. Aside from when Olynyk tore his shoulder apart and the one game he lost to concussion in the Finals, Love has been available for the playoffs 3 of the 4 years we went to the Finals. That's really what teams are trading for. He's a knockdown stretch big, he's an elite rebounder on both ends, he is a good passer, he's a Champion.
The Cavs have 0 reason to have to trade Kevin Love. If we can get a good value package, then sure. If not, I'm fine with waiting out. I don't anticipate some kind of free-fall in terms of ability/production over the next 3-4 seasons. If nobody wants him now, I guarantee someone will want him at the end of his contract in the last 1-2 years and eventually we will be able to get SOME value for him. If in the meantime he gives our two young (hopefully)stud guards a bunch of floor spacing/lessons on how to be a pro, then so be it.
I don't think the Love contract was a mistake at all. Use him the best way possible for our team. No need to try to showcase him. Just let him be a good leader, and do his thing. Don't play him in back-to-backs. Keep him around 28-30 minutes a night. Practice load management liberally.