Throughout the NBA offseason, there was a lot of discussion about what the Cleveland Cavaliers would do with their veteran big man, Kevin Love. It was a head-scratching decision when the Cavaliers extended Love, as they did it following LeBron James leaving town.
Without James, it was clear that the Cavaliers would be embarking on a rebuild. Signing a 30-year old to a four-year deal worth over $120 million is an odd decision for a rebuilding team and it was a deal the Cavaliers quickly regretted.
Finding a team that would take him on in a deal was not going to be easy. Love struggled with injuries and he wasn’t nearly as productive as he once was. A buyout was something many expected, but ultimately, no move was made involving Love.
Retaining him has ended up being the right decision for the Cavaliers. General manager Koby Altman told Love that he would be a bench player for the first time in his career and it was something he was okay with but he wanted to make sure that if he earned minutes, that he would receive them.
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Love embraced the move and has earned his playing time. He has become a key part of their second unit along with veteran point guard Ricky Rubio. The two have experience playing with each other from their time earlier in their careers with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It is not easy for veterans to see just a drastic change in their roles. We have seen some players, such as John Wall, not get to play as they await a move to be made, but Love didn’t want that to be him.
He has played well enough to stick in the rotation. Love is in the midst of the most efficient shooting season of his career and is a great mentor for the young players on the team.
“We’ve got a good thing going and I’m having a lot of fun,” Love said. “It’s going to be great watching this young team develop.”
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For a team as young as the Cleveland Cavaliers, having a player with as much championship experience as Kevin Love is a luxury, not every team is afforded. He knows what it takes to win and will help keep the team focused. He knows as well as anyone that this is a great start for the Cavaliers, but there is plenty of work still to be done.
