King James Gospel
Fansided

Kevin Love’s extension could make Cavs the loyal franchise

By Doug Patrick

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Kevin Love
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Kevin Love /
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers leaves the court after a 105-101 win in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers leaves the court after a 105-101 win in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Comparing Love to DeRozan and Thomas

The Cavaliers’ handling of Kevin Love appears different from the Celtics’ and Raptors’ handling of their respective stars.

Unlike Toronto, the Cavs made good on the commitment they expressed to Love. Where the Raptors privately reassured DeRozan that his place on the team was secure, the Cavs publicly stated they were not trading Love. Cleveland’s transparency is in contrast to Toronto’s shadowy dealings.

Between Love and Thomas, the situation’s parallels are more nuanced.

Similarly, each player is injury prone—Love plays about 60 to 70 games per year while Thomas has fluctuated wildly each season. The Cavs trust Love to remain the player he has been in his tenure, reliable for 17 and 10 each night, and maybe even better than that as they look to compete in the East. The Celtics did not trust Thomas to stay the player he was before.

Differently, Love is getting paid to become the first option while Thomas already was the first option in Boston.

The Celtics quickly worked out a deal with the Cavs when Irving requested a trade. They found an opportune trade partner for their star because they did not believe he would sustain his success. The same one who loved Boston enough to play through an injury for them.

The Cavs reportedly did not entertain offers this offseason for Kevin Love, even when he became the team’s best player. Though Love has been in trade rumors throughout his Cavalier tenure—and almost got traded to Indiana—this all happened when Love was a clear second or third option.

Love’s extension suggests that the Cavs thought he had earned the right to lead their interesting collection of young and old talent.

Rather than look to ship Love off for a different star, or attach him to dead salaries and make Collin Sexton the team’s new face, the Cavs chose to believe in their forward. Love, for his part, is a reliable contributor and a high-character professional.

Cleveland understood Love to deserve the new role and contract while Boston believed Thomas could not continue leading their team. The Cavs showed loyalty to their steady big man of four years while the Celtics did not to their breakout guard of three.