Kevin is Cavalier about his future
New York is a nice place to visit. But the Cavaliers’ Kevin Love doesn’t see himself living there. At least as a Knick. In fact, Love doesn’t see himself leaving Cleveland any time soon.
“No, I don’t,” Love said when asked by reporters Friday at the Cavaliers’ practice facility in Independence, Ohio, if he expects to be traded. “I expect to be here for a long time.”
Love admitted he has been more concerned with getting his back in order than packing a suitcase. Love, a fourtime All-Star, has missed two games with spasms, but expects to face the Knicks at the Garden on Saturday when LeBron James and friends invade. Love was relieved tests found no structural damage in his back.
There have been numerous reports of the Knicks trying to coax the Cavs into a Carmelo Anthony for Love trade, while there have been an equal number of reports claiming Cleveland will not surrender Love. Still, rumors persist.
“It’s good to be wanted,” Love joked about hearing trade rumors.
“I predicted that. I said it doesn’t matter if I have an AllStar year, one side or the other, it’s always going to be there,” Love said about the rumors, which he deadpanned have him “occasionally” checking his phone.
He no doubt will check right up to the trading deadline, which brings one of the season’s subtle ironies. The deadline is Feb. 23 — when the Knicks visit Cleveland. But Love has learned to live with rumors.
“Comes with the territory,” said Love, who is averaging 19.9 points and 11.0 rebounds. “When that stuff comes along, I’ve done a lot better job of letting things just kind of roll off of me. I think it’d helped me out on the court as well.”