Kevin Love’s season-ending shoulder injury has given him the sadz.
But he’s gradually getting the happyz.
After jostling for position under the basket with the Boston Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk in Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs, Love was forced to undergo shoulder surgery that cut his first-ever postseason appearance short. He was not happy. Shoot, he probably still isn’t happy. His Cleveland Cavaliers are two wins away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, a run that he should be a part of, and one that could end in an NBA Finals appearance or even a championship, all while he watches from the sidelines.
The timing of Love’s injury is unideal for a few reasons. There’s the whole “this is the playoffs” thing, for one. But more than that, he’s speeding toward free agency this summer, and despite what he says publicly, it’s difficult to get a hold of what the hell will happen.
Personally, I have him returning to Cleveland. But I also had LeBron James returning to the Miami Heat. So make of that what you will.
Prior to Love’s injury, the Celtics were considered one of the frontrunners for his services should he choose to leave Cleveland. Olynyk’s cheap yank of Love’s shoulder was thought to have ruined those chances. Love won’t even let him apologize.
Alas, it seems that Love’s ill will is beginning to dissipate. From NBA.com’s David Aldridge:
The rumor mill has churned for a year with nuggets about Love’s supposed interest in Boston after his up and down season with the Cavs. But Love seemed to have finally found his equilibrium in Cleveland at the end of the season before suffering that separated shoulder — against the Celtics — in the first round. Yahoo! Sports reported last week that that injury at the hands of Kelly Olynyk may have cooled Love’s interest in playing for the Celtics next season. My experience has consistently been that anger subsides as dollars increase, and I’m told authoritatively that Love holds no long-lasting ill will toward either the Celtics or Olynyk. Boston can offer Love a max deal a second after midnight on July 1, an opportunity to again be the focal point of his team, lead an emerging surrounding cast and play for a terrific young coach.
What this basically means is the Celtics are still in the running for Love if and when he decides to explore the open market. It does not make them favorites, even though the Celtics, unlike both the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, have shown they can be trusted with draft picks and in trade negotiations.
What this then does by extension is up the speculation factor. Assuming Love decides to opt out of the last year of his contract, the Celtics are once again yet another team that’s fair game for anonymous sources.
Whether or not they actually become a player for Love is up in the air. It would take a lot for him to leave Cleveland financially. He would likely do so on a short-term deal that allows him to capitalize on the impending cap boons in 2016 and 2017. Even then, he may have to sign a series of one-year deals with player options for the next three years, just so his new team can obtain his Bird rights.
Anyhow, the point is, the Celtics and Love are unlikely to die as sworn enemies. Celebrate accordingly.
