Cavs’ Love not expecting trade
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Kevin Love’s back spasms have vanished. Those trade rumours won’t go away. Cleveland’s All-Star forward expects to play tonight in New York after missing the past two games with a lower-back issue he said is now “under control.”
The 28-year-old practised Friday and said afterward he’s confident he won’t miss any more time.
“We’re hoping that we’ve got a pretty good handle on it now,” Love said.
But while Love’s back trouble has eased, the speculation about his future persists.
For weeks, Love has been mentioned in trade speculation involving the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony.
Although the teams have not publicly acknowledged any talks and a Love-for-Anthony swap straight up is highly unlikely, it remains a hot topic around the NBA as the Feb. 23 trade deadline approaches.
Cavs general manager David Griffin would like to add some pieces — a backup point guard and rim-protecting big man — to Cleveland’s roster, and it’s obvious that Love could bring the team multiple players in a trade.
But Love’s contract (an average salary of $22.6 million over the next four seasons) limits potential partners, and the Cavs would need to replace his 19.9 points and 11 rebounds per game.
The Cavs could deal Love, but finding the right match isn’t so simple.
Love laughed when the rumblings of him landing in New York were mentioned to him after practice. “I predicted that,” he said. But while fans and media discuss the possibility of the NBA champs dealing one of their best players, Love doesn’t think he’ll be traded.
“I don’t,” he said. “I expect to be here for a long time.”
Still, his presence on the floor at Madison Square Garden against Anthony will provide an interesting backdrop as the Cavs, who went 7-8 in January, open a four-game road trip in basketball’s most famous arena.
Love has gotten used to his name being attached to potential trades.
“It’s good to be wanted,” said Love, who came to the Cavs in a blockbuster deal in 2014. “With this being my ninth year in the league, I guess it’s just part of the growth process.”