Cavs' Love on 'evolving' relationship with LeBron: 'We're not best friends'
Kevin Love made his media rounds on Monday and a few of his comments will surely raise the eyebrows of Cleveland Cavaliers fans.
Love discussed his first season in Cleveland on ESPN's Mike and Mike and the Dan Patrick Show, touching on a variety of topics, including his first career playoff berth and his reduced role and fourth quarter benchings. But it was Love's comments about his icy relationship with LeBron James that will grab headlines.
"You know, we're not best friends, we're not hanging out every day, but we see each other every day, whether at the practice facility, whether on the road or going to a game," Love told Mike and Mike.
"I think our relationship is also evolving. I can say the same with each and every coach, Coach Blatt and each and every player on the team. But that's part of the NBA," Love added, noting that Blatt's decisions to keep him out of some fourth quarters have largely been matchup-driven.
As for James' MVP candidacy, Love told Dan Patrick that he would pick former UCLA teammate Russell Westbrook for the award over James.
"They're both having an MVP-type season, but I'm going to go with Russell Westbrook," Love said. "Every single night you're looking at his stat sheet, they're fighting for a playoff spot, with Serge Ibaka going down now, Kevin Durant potentially being out the rest of the year and him still going out there and fighting for his team, and winning, and fighting for that seventh or eighth spot in the playoffs," he added.
"I think Russ is arguably having the better season."
Love has sacrificed personal accolades more than any other player on the loaded Cavaliers roster, with the three-time All-Star's production taking a noticeable hit.
| Kevin Love | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|---|---|---|
| USG% | 28.8 | 21.6 |
| FGA per game | 18.5 | 12.8 |
| Touches per game | 87.6 | 65.7 |
| PPG | 26.1 | 16.5 |
| RPG | 12.5 | 10.1 |
| APG | 4.4 | 2.3 |
"If we have a chance at the end of the year to hoist that Larry O'Brien Trophy, then it's all been worth it," Love told Mike and Mike. "I think there's been times this season, naturally, that I fought it, but then seeing the end result, it kind of changes everything."
Love can hit unrestricted free agency this summer if he opts out of his player option for next season, which is worth more than $16.7 million.
"I plan on being a Cavalier either way," Love told Patrick after being asked whether winning a championship would make his staying with the Cavs more likely.
Of course, that statement means little in regards to Love's long-term future in Cleveland. Given the massive salary cap increase expected in the summer of 2016 - after the league's lucrative new media deal kicks in - Love can stand to make much more money on a maximum contract signed in 2016 as opposed to 2015.
Love planning to be a Cavalier with respect to free agency could simply mean he intends to play out his player option for next season or perhaps sign a one-year deal before hitting a more advantageous free agent market the following year.