Cavs: Kevin Love could benefit as leader from Olympics

The USA’s Men’s Basketball squad again looks to have a formidable roster in the works for this year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Among the players on the team, the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ own Kevin Love has found himself a spot.

While Love certainly has not been the player he used to be for the Cavaliers, he still has an important place with this team. As a veteran, and one of the remaining champions from the 2016 team, Love’s role with these young Cavaliers is that of a mentor, and leader, even though he’s not been stellar in that realm always.

But generally, Cleveland is still finding their identity with this young team, and while they continue to develop a culture here, it’s imperative that there is a strong veteran presence on and off the court to steer the youth in the right direction.

With a young group of talent to build around like Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro and Jarrett Allen, Cleveland’s rebuilding years have shown the spotlight on these up-and-coming Cavaliers. As a side note, Sexton has recently been a key player mentioned in trade rumors, but he could still seemingly be a key player for this team moving forward, given the growth he’s shown and production.

Albeit even with the young guys more in the spotlight, I believe the Cavaliers organization should still give their veterans the attention they are due.

Now, Kevin Love’s 2020-2021 NBA season was not the brightest spot in his career. After another injury-riddled NBA season, mostly in relation to a right calf injury, his selection to this year’s Team USA team did raise some eyebrows. Having only played 25 games this now-past NBA season, with an average of 12.2 points per game, in addition to 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists, Love does seem like an odd choice, even in my opinion.

However, he was chosen to represent Cleveland and the United States for a reason. So, let’s take a step back and examine this moment for Love and discuss how this will benefit him coming into the 2021-2022 NBA season as a leader for the Cavaliers. This is in the case that Love, who has been mentioned in trade rumors for quite some time but has not been dealt, is not dealt, which still appears more likely currently.

Love could benefit as a leader for the Cavs from this Olympics experience.

Regarding his Team USA spot, Love’s time on this year’s Olympics squad will likely be as a role player off the bench, and that is exactly what he needs. Love is no stranger to the world stage, having represented the United States previously in 2012 where he won a gold medal with the team and in 2010, he won the gold with them in the FIBA World Championship.

According to Team USA CEO, Jerry Colangelo, Love was chosen to play for Team USA due to his versatility and ability to rebound and knock down shots, via Marc Berman of the New York Post. Not to mention, Love’s previous experience when it comes to playing on an international level, per Colangelo and via Berman. Team USA needed a player to fit the role of an adaptable big man, and if Kevin Love plays at his highest caliber, they will have just that.

I am in the camp that believes playing with Team USA will benefit the Cavalier big man immensely. Getting to play with some of the greatest players the league has to offer on a global stage should hopefully rejuvenate Love and provide him with a much-needed confidence boost.

Playing with the likes of Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, and more, Love will have an opportunity this offseason to improve and reclaim his title as an elite rebounder and floor spacer in the NBA. Dame is easily one of the league’s best point guards at the moment, and averaged 28.8 points and 7.5 assists per outing in 2020-21; it’s no surprise he was selected. From there, Durant has cemented himself as one of the top players in the league overall.

Anyway, Lillard and Durant are only two of the players on this 12-man roster that Love will get the chance to play with. But the point is, spending time with superstar players like that will help to enhance Love’s game and he can relay some of what those players told him skill set-wise which he can then communicate to younger Cavs.

That, and the mindset of those great players can make a difference for Love from a leadership perspective.

If he can improve his play this offseason with Team USA, maybe Kevin Love can step up big time in Cleveland, and potentially aid in guiding this young core of Cavaliers into a winning season. The Cavs having the #3 pick in the upcoming draft could very well factor into that, too, for what it’s worth.

This Olympics experience for Love though, for a number of reasons, in the event he stays healthy, should be crucial for him.