Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love is at least saying all the right things. Love reiterated his intent to stay in Cleveland for the long haul, despite reports indicating he felt frustrated with the team and would "strongly" consider the Los Angeles Lakers after the season.
Love can opt out of his contract and become a free agent in July, which has at least some in the NBA community speculating the All-Star may leave Cleveland after the season. Love, who's gone from a team's No. 1 option to a team's No. 3 option, is trying his best to put that speculation to rest.
"Whether we lose two or three games in a row, or there's a game where my statistical output isn't necessarily what it should be, people are always going to talk," he said on ESPN radio, via WFNY. "Since I was traded to Cleveland this summer, I've said since Day 1 that I'm a Cleveland Cavalier long term and I plan for it to be that way. I want to grow with this team. There's a lot of guys with unique talent, one-through-fifteen, on our roster who are going to be here for a long time.
"If I could end all the speculation now, I would. But people are going to continue to talk no matter what. I just want to continue getting better with this team long term. I'm a Cleveland Cavalier."
Cleveland - Love, in particular - had a rough start to the season. At least one report indicated Love felt frustrated by his role in the offense, but that likely is no longer the case. Team chemistry has continued to improve and the Cavaliers (9-7) are on a four game winning streak, in which Love is averaging 22 points per game.
As the season has gone on, Love's biggest deficiency - his defense - has also seemed to improve.
"In general, I would like to say, I think Kevin Love is playing the best defense of his career so far," said first-year Cavaliers coach David Blatt, via ESPN. "He can get better like all of us can, but he's doing a good job. He's buying into the system, into the principles, and he needs to continue to do that and we need to continue to involve him in the way that we are."
Love readily admits he'll never be a lockdown defender, but he believes he can continue to improve as a team defender.
"I've never really been known for that in my career," he said of his defense, according to ESPN. "Being a lockdown defender is something that I know I'll never be, but as far as being a team defender, being in the right spots, being physical, doing those things, I can get a lot better at that and just continue to break down film and see where I can get better out there."
Cleveland lacks a true rim-protector, which - like how the Miami Heat played during LeBron James's four years there - means Cleveland must rely on team defense, something that is dependent on team chemistry and takes time to gel.
Despite Love's long-held stance that he would remain in Cleveland, a report from Bull.com's Sam Smith claimed Love would "seriously consider" signing with Los Angeles in July as a free agent.
"It's not going to get as much discussion during the season, but one of the biggest issues for the Cavs is that both LeBron James and Kevin Love own opt outs after this season," Smith wrote. "LeBron James basically cannot afford to go anywhere after his return to Cleveland. But watch out for Love. Indications are he will seriously consider the opt out and has his eyes on a return to Los Angeles, where he attended college and where the Lakers long have had him on their free agent wish list."
Los Angeles will have a huge chunk of salary cap space available in the summer. If Love remains in Cleveland, Los Angeles could target Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic or Marc Gasol.
