2020-21 bold prediction #1 for Love for the Cleveland Cavaliers: He’ll lead the team in rebounding
Throughout his career, Love has been an exceptional rebounder. He was one of the best rebounders in the entire NBA during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. During a five-year stretch with the team going from 2009-2014, he averaged 11.0, 15.2, 13.3, 14.0, and 12.5 rebounds per game respectively.
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These rebounding numbers took a major dip once he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, though, in large part due to Thompson, along with LeBron James, on the defensive end, in particular. Love had to change many things about himself to fit in with the team and play the role that was necessary for him for the Cavs to have optimal success.
This included him losing a fair amount of weight so he could play more athletically, and he had to become more of a volume perimeter threat.
As a result of him being on the perimeter more than any other time in his career rather than playing in the post where offensive rebounds are easier to get, and again, with James and Thompson mostly a bunch on the floor with him, his rebounding numbers dropped.
However, now that the Cavaliers are no longer championship contenders, it is possible that he could be playing the center position if the team goes through with trading Andre Drummond or at the very least spending more time in the paint than he did during James’ second stint with the Cavaliers.
That potential trading of Drummond at some point next season would be under the assumption that Drummond picked up his $28.8 million player option, which is reportedly likely, anyhow.
If Drummond does stay on the team throughout the entirety of next season, though, it would make it very difficult for Love to lead in the team in rebounds.
Drummond is one of the best rebounders in the entire NBA and at the time of the league’s novel coronavirus suspension, Drummond was set to lead the league again in rebounding. He was on his way to being the league’s rebounding champ for the fourth time in his career.
That being said, Love is still a capable offensive rebounder, led the Cavs in defensive rebounding this season with 8.8 per game, per NBA.com, and with Thompson seemingly having a good chance of departing, this is bold, but not impossible.
Lastly, even while he was banged up to an extent and was not comfortable just yet, Drummond’s rebounding numbers greatly dipped when he joined the Cavs post-trade deadline. He went from averaging 15.8 rebounds per game with the Detroit Pistons in the 2019-2020 season to averaging 11.1 rebounds per game with the Cavaliers.
Moreover, the second bold prediction for Love for 2020-21 has to do with him continuing to hit from the outside, but even more so, really.