Kevin Love sat out 50 games because of foot surgery, but the Cavaliers‘ star forward doesn’t expect to miss any more, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Love told reporters today that he plans to play in all 24 remaining games, even though the Cavaliers have fallen far out of the playoff race and are in a four-way competition to be among the three teams with the best odds at landing the top pick in the draft.
“I think you’ll see me more on a steady basis and not miss games after the break, I’m hoping,” Love said. “So just continue to improve the minutes and make sure that I’m feeling good and go from there.”
Love has seen brief action since making his return on February 8. He played about six minutes that night against the Wizards, skipped the next game, then played 16 minutes February 11 against the Knicks. The Cavs rested him for the final contest before the All-Star break.
Love will be kept on a minutes restriction until team doctors clear him for full-time duty, coach Larry Drew told Fedor. He was able to play five-on-five today without any physical problems and is working to regain his conditioning.
Love has four years and more than $120MM left on the extension he signed last summer. He has insisted he wants to remain in Cleveland even as the team undergoes a rebuilding process.
That might get in the way of tanking so I’ll pass
They’re not tanking. Cavs will probably win 8 of the last 20 with Love. Still worth a lot of pingpong balls though.
Establish trade value.
If the Cavs do not get the number 1 pick you keep Kevin Love. Williamson is a 4 and will probably go to Phoenix or Atlanta.
Williamson blew out his shoe and hurt his knee 36 seconds into game against North Carolina tonight and was unable to return. He was able to walk off on his own. No word on injury.
In what world can a guy like Zion and a stretch four like Love not be able to play together??
He’ll probably go to whoever gets the top pick.
We’ve heard that before. What hasn’t he injured?
Insisting he wants to stay in Cleveland is cover-up for no one will trade for me, my injury prone body, or ridiculous cap consuming contact for the next 4 years. Cleveland deserves him if they were that dumb to extend him at that cost.