Love vows to be a ‘positive force’ amid uncertainty
Facing the possibility that he will lose his starting job, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love would not say Cleveland is where he wants to be.
Love shot down a report that said he had no interest in a buyout of the remaining $60 million he’s owed on his contract over the next two seasons. The crux of his explanation was that the story was speculation and “the buyout had never even come up.”
“Sometimes (expletive) is thrown against the wall and people are seeing who’s going to read it and who’s going to see it,” Love said. “For me, that’s never been a thing. I’m still sitting here Year 14 as a Cav.”
As the Cavs opened training camp, Love at times seemed irritated with questions about his future that have dogged him since he arrived in an August 2014 trade. But the five-time Allstar who turned 33 on Sept. 7 said he will take an upbeat attitude into the 2021-22 season.
“Listen, it’s a young team, this is obviously where this is headed ... but what I’m going to try to be, like I told Koby and J.B., is a positive force,” Love said in reference to General Manager Koby Altman and coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “Wherever this ends up, I just want to make sure that at least ... when we walk into this building, that’s positive . ...
“It’s the same thing last year — we know what’s going on in the locker room. Everybody had their moments, me included, maybe me specifically. But I want to make sure that it’s going to be positive so long as I’m donning a Cavs jersey.”
Since Lebron James left for the Los
Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018, Love has struggled as the losses mount. The Cavs’ 22-50 record last season was their best in the past three seasons.
Last season, Love was limited to 25 games by a calf injury that forced his
Olympic withdrawal on July 16. In 202021, he averaged 12.2 points per game, the second-lowest of his 13 NBA seasons, and his 7.4 rebounds were a career-low.
“A healthy Kevin Love helps us on the basketball court,, He helps us off the court,” Altman said. “He still remains a mentor to these guys, they look up to him. I think for us, figuring out how we can establish him on the court to help us, it’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge for us to have.
“He’s a future Hall of Famer, he’s ours and we’re fortunate to have him. I really do think he can help us still.”
Love has missed 161 out of 383 games since the Cavs won the 2016 NBA title. He knows a successful season for him will be “just being available.”
“Obviously I’ve been very unlucky with some injuries, but I know if I’m feeling good, I’m going to play good,” he said.