Is Kevin Love the most loyal Cavalier?

Love shows his commitment to Cleveland, yet is still questioned in year two

Coming into the 2015-16 season Love seemed to be free of the burden of free agency.  While he played well, the rumors of Love leaving switched to Love being traded to bring in another star.

At that point, the fan base was behind him, but with all these trade rumors it seemed as if the Cavaliers were not truly committed to Love.

The media was critical of Love and many branded him the “weak link” of the Cavaliers big three.  Whether it was Love’s defense, his inconsistent shooting or his perceived inability to play with LeBron and Kyrie Irving, the criticism never stopped.

This did not hinder Love at all.  He was still on a mission to help Cleveland win a title and when the moment was biggest, Love stepped up.  In Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, Love scored nine points, grabbed 14 rebounds and was a +19 for the game.

His biggest moment, however, came in the final minute of the game.  He stuck with 2-time most valuable player Steph Curry and forced him into a tough shot.  It became known as “the stop” in Cleveland sports history.

Even after Love won a championship, there were still those suggesting that Love needs to be traded. Think about how crazy that sounds.

Whether it was trading Love for cap relief, or because he and LeBron still did not fit, the reasons given were laughable at the time.  Whether people wanted to admit it or not, Love was a vital part of this Cavaliers team.

His ability to rebound the ball, make 70-foot outlet passes look easy and his capacity to score from both inside and outside made him a threat to every opposing team.  Fans and media members alike still doubted Love, even after becoming a champion.