Before asking Kevin Love to become their new franchise player, the Cavaliers decided to pay him like one. Cleveland reached a four-year, $120MM extension this week with the All-Star forward, who becomes the face of the franchise now that LeBron James has left for the Lakers.
It’s a radical role change for Love, who came to Cleveland as the third member of a Big Three that also included Kyrie Irving. That group reached three straight NBA Finals and won a title in 2016 before the Cavs granted Irving’s trade request and shipped him to the Celtics last summer.
Love showed he can handle being a No. 1 option during the first six years of his career in Minnesota. He made three All-Star appearances in that stretch and posted some impressive numbers, including a 26.1/12.5/4.4 line during his final season with the Wolves.
Love never came close to matching that production in Cleveland, especially in scoring, where he often subjugated his offense in deference to James and Irving. Love spent much of his time waiting for kick-out passes at the 3-point line and often seemed directionless as his star teammates dominated the ball.
Now Love is the star and should get more touches than anyone. He will be the focal point of an offense that features plenty of shooters such as Kyle Korver, J.R. Smith and Rodney Hood if he re-signs, but few creators or playmakers, unless rookie point guard Collin Sexton is ready to contribute right away.
Even before LeBron announced his latest decision, Cavaliers management was making it clear that there were no plans to tank without him. Cleveland will be counting on Love to keep its playoff streak alive, not just in 2018/19 but well into the next decade.
We want your opinion on the new deal. Is Love worth the money he’s going to make in his extension, or is this a panic move by an organization that should be rebuilding after losing its two best players in back-to-back summers? Please leave your feedback in the space below.
I can’t believe they gave him that cont
Contract
I agree. Gonna be a long time before Cavs can contend, and Love will be on old tired legs by then — if he’s still in the league. Signing must have to do with concern about season ticket sales.
It’s as simple as Lebron not being around is going to open up opportunities for the rest of the roster. Lebron hopefully changes up his approach to the game in LA and not try to take away point guard duties away from Lonzo by bringing the ball up the floor constantly. That said we’ll get an opportunity to see how good of a coach Lue is without having to compromise with Lebron as a coach.
Maybe Dionis is Skip Bayless’ burner account. Never hesitates to spit on the best player in the league. You literally didn’t even answer the question. So Skip was it a smart move to give Love that massive extension?
Absolutely, Love is a team first player and the offense will flourish with him as the focal point. Without Lebron the ball will swing a lot more and everyone on the team will get more shots and higher quality shots. Love is only 29 and will be 33-34 at the end of his contract, his skill set does not require athleticism so he will produce at a high level for the duration of his contract so yes I approve of the extension.
You’re forgetting to mention that Love cannot lead a team. He proved that in MN for several years. He will put up gaudy numbers but they won’t matter because the cavs will go nowhere with him as the #1 option
You’re forgetting Minnesota had a bad roster. Cleveland’s roster is mikes ahead of Minnesota’s then.
Love had been the third option but is capable as he proved in Minnesota to be the number one. It’s not a panic move at all. Gamble maybe since the last three years he has had a different role but not a panic move.
And while the number one in Minnesota, what did he accomplish?
Exactly. He will put up gaudy numbers but they will mean nothing
KLove played on a really crappy team in the west. That’s what it accounted for.
Love was the third option behind Kyrie, but I never actually thought of him as worse than Kyrie. He doesn’t have the shooter mentality but he does have the team friendly play that should be cohesive to any type of team the cavs are trying to construct. I like it because I think that’s the type of player that can compliment any player the cavs do acquire in the future.
Yes.
When trade talks were out, all the teams were saying Love wasn’t worth what he used to be. On the other hand, Dwayne Wade said he wanted to play with the 2nd unit to get his shots. With LeBron gone, everybody should get their shots. When Love was out last season, the Cavs lost a more games than they won. I’m curious to see how LeBron does in LA without 2 superstars.
Last year he went as far as he did with only one “superstar.” As for his teammates on the Lakers, I personally think there will be a time of need for adjustment and chemistry, but once that’s figured out, he’ll have a younger, better supporting cast than he did last season with the Cavs.
Why not see if he can give a solid healthy season before extending him at 30 million a year?
Dan Gilbert was trying to trade for Love before LBJ announced he was coming back. I think Love is a great “face” of the franchise and if you’re Gilbert you simply don’t want as pronounced of a fall off in excitement with the local fan base that occurred when LBJ left for Miami. I’m a bit more shocked that Loce signed. Certainly the money was more than what he would’ve received as a free agent but he’s made tons of money and could easily get 4/$80 on the open market.I assumed that being a west cost kid he would attempt to sign with either of the LA teams, Portland or maybe GSW. I truly think he might really like it in Cleveland and I wouldn’t be shocked if he retired as a Cavs. Or at least until Gilbert decides to sell the team.
He’s been on tape saying he loves it Cleveland the last four years. Of course most stars say the same thing then leave a place. I’m thinking he most likely stays.
Remember the last four years the national media pounded it into our heads that Life was getting traded. Every freaking year. Turns out he’s the only Big 3 left in Cleveland.
He most definitely deserves this contract, as a 3rd option he has a 17/10 over the 4 years he has been in Cleveland, been the first you can see him without trouble at all going maybe 22/23PPG & 12RPG & with those numbers, regardless if the team wins or not 30MM is the right price. You see in the last 2 seasons only 3 players have had these type of numbers or better. AD, DMC & KAT… not bad company, so cannot see how anyone would doubt of the contract, just been back to a similar standard of his Minny days is all it takes for him.
KLove has a better scoring efficiency last year than either LeBron it Kyrie. In fact KLove was top ten in the league for scoring efficiency last year. He should have no trouble doing well the next four years unless the injury bug hits.
As NBA fans it’s generally excepted (amongst the same ones)that the championship is forgone conclusion barring two major injuries to GS starting 5. However the Eastern conference playoffs should be pretty entertaining. And i think the Cavs should be pretty interesting. Sexton-Korver-Smith-Hood-Love is an all scoring lineup that will do some pretty serious damage when their hot. The rest of the offseason Sexton will be working on his 3pointer and if he get close to league averages he’s a legit contender for ROY. He’s really in a position to succeed. With all that floor spacing he can drive to the rim pretty effortlessly and be an effective number 2 option. I think giving Love that extension was not a mistake because Sexton is going to make a quality contribution and the Cavs are going to the playoffs. The Pre-Lebron years were brutal, as were the Miami-Lebron years. The city of Cleveland isn’t ready to return to that.
Agree. Although the mark price years were a ton of fun as was Austin Carr’s years.
Terrible contract by the Cavs. Let’s look at some important notes…
He’s starting the season at the age of 30, but physically plays like he’s 35 or older. He’s played 60 games or less in a season for half his career! While the ‘main’ option/player in Minnesota, he accomplished nada. Never once took them to the playoffs under his watch. And his defense is horrendous. Plays like a matador.
He’s a good complementary player as demonstrated with LeBron, and even better when third fiddle, but no way is he a leader worth $30m per. Cavs would’ve been better off moving him for picks and begin the rebuild. I think the signing was done out of desperation.
1. Getting older will NOT harm his game Offensively. Defensively, he will likely be surrounded by above-average youngish players to compensate.
2. Minnesota was improving every year as Love improved. They would have qualified in the East. I was disappointed when the Love-wants-out rumors started.
3. Cleveland just had a run of 4 finals and a title. Desperation is NOT high. The predicted 27 wins could get old in time…
Some of the fanbase have been unaccountably clamoring for youth; it’s their turn now; but Love will be there for the fans of quality. A good mix
I’ll counter that…
1. Getting older WILL impact his game in every way. He has to be on the court in order to make any impact of any kind. He’s injury prone and it won’t get any better.
2. Still, nothing to show under his watch. Could’ve/should’ve/would’ve doesn’t count.
3. The reason you went to 4 straight finals left for LA.
Best strategy is a rebuild in my opinion. JR, Korver, Thompson, etc. Let them play out their contracts and be done with them. Sexton is a good start. Could’ve moved Love for picks, but not sure you’d be able to do that now with that contract. And FA’s won’t be interested in coming to Cleveland at the tail end of his contact (they can’t now because there is no room) as he’ll be sucking up a roster spot and cap space.
As TT & JR expire and cap space clears, then IMO Love already onboard makes CLE more attractive for a FA than if CLE is all non-stars.
Of course it will be up to an actual FA to decide that! Trends can change, but right now stars want other stars aboard rather than the deck cleared.
Now the chance of landing an Irving/Butler type combo was thrown overboard, to continue the metaphor, and maybe twofers will be more common in the future, but one has not happened yet. And there are already going to be enough youngsters getting PT for CLE.
There are total-rebuild Cavs fans, and fans of young players, and these two groups are in a position to agree on a course of action. But there is room for Love at this stage. Frankly the idea that a Cleveland team might win too often may sound strange to a local fan. He
Given the change in pingpong ball allocation, it will be the tankers running aground.
I’ll counter that KLove had a better scoring efficiency than either LeBron or Kyrie last season. And they went to the finals. In fact KLove was top ten in the league with scoring efficiency last year.
Well, that settles it and I stand corrected. Silly me, how could I have missed the all important scoring efficiency. Top 10 you say? Well hell, Cleveland kept the right guy! All this time I didn’t realize it was Love and his ‘scoring efficiency’ that lead the team to the finals. Thanks for the info.
Doesn’t Atlanta have rights to clevelands next two 1st if they aren’t a top 10 pick? Seems not to tank if Cleveland falls in the 12-15th range Atlanta gets their pick
Just one pick. If not 2019 11-30, then 2020 11-30. If not 2020 either, then a 2021 r2.
There is an incentive to tank for 2 years, but it’s possible to miss the playoffs and still give up the pick!
Why tank and give up your best player that wants to stay in Cleveland all for the potential you Might draft a guy like KLove? You might end up with Anthony Bennett II
I don’t blame Kevin Love for getting the bag at all. But i think most would agree that they’re better off tanking and rebuilding. I don’t see this contract being movable and while KLove is a good maybe even great player, the Cavs will struggle to be playoff contenders for the foreseeable future. I can’t be mad at the Cavs for trying to stay competitive though
A 1- 10 pick might get you a player like KLove it an Anthony Bennett. The trick is you have to give up your best player to get a draft pick. I like what the Cavs are doing.
Also, that contract would be easy to move. A top ten scoring efficiency player in the league for a team at the deadline would be worth quite a lot for a playoff team. Look what the Cavs paid for Korver at the deadline.