NBA Rumors: 5 replacements for Kevin Love in Cleveland
By John Buhler
Kevin Love has yet to find his role in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ big three in two years. Here are five players that fit better with Cleveland than does Love.
When LeBron James decided it was time to go home to Northeast Ohio during 2014 NBA free agency, it was no secret that he had some serious work to do to turn around a lackluster basketball culture with the Cleveland Cavaliers after he left his hometown team four years prior.
Upon his return to Cleveland, James inherited a solid All-Star caliber point guard in Kyrie Irving, who was more than capable of helping James bring a championship to Cleveland for the first time since the Cleveland Browns won the NFL Championship in 1964.
However, James took a huge gamble in pushing for Cavaliers general manager David Griffin to trade 2014 No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins to the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire elite stretch four Kevin Love. While Minnesota failed to make the NBA Playoffs during the entire Love era (2008-14), Love was arguably a top 10 player in the NBA for the Timberwolves.
At the time, the deal to acquire Love from Minnesota seemed like a no-brainer for Cleveland to make. However, Love in two years has not been able to play up to his potential with the Cavaliers. This has a lot to do with James and Love essentially playing the same position at the stretch four.
Love has never been a great defensive player, as he lacks the lateral quickness to stay in front of guys attacking the rim. However, it’s still head-scratching to see his great low-post game and rebounding ability completely fall to the wayside in Cleveland, as he is strictly a perimeter threat with the Cavaliers.
Though Cleveland has made it a series with the Golden State Warriors in back-to-back NBA Finals, here are five high-end players that might have been a better fit for the Cavaliers in their so-called big three instead of Love.
Next: 5. J.J. Redick.