Kevin Love

[Worst_to_First]

Regardless of how the Cavs perform in the playoffs, I think the team should explore trading Kevin Love in the offseason once he picks up his option. With the way he is utilized, he will not be worth the money that will eventually be given to him. Guys like Mozgov and Thompson will eventually get paid and Cavs will be better off saving any semblance of cap space for stars or veterans that will want to play for your team. You could get a stretch-four elsewhere at a cheaper price. Celtics will be a good trade partner involving Love. Squeeze as much first round picks as you can get.

[teleblaze]

Regardless of how the Cavs perform in the playoffs, I think the team should explore trading Kevin Love in the offseason once he picks up his option. With the way he is utilized, he will not be worth the money that will eventually be given to him. Guys like Mozgov and Thompson will eventually get paid and Cavs will be better off saving any semblance of cap space for stars or veterans that will want to play for your team. You could get a stretch-four elsewhere at a cheaper price. Celtics will be a good trade partner involving Love. Squeeze as much first round picks as you can get.

Well, Griffin should have thought about it before hand, before he gave all those assets away since Love is best used as a stretch four when Irving and LBJ are on the court and that is a fact.
Cavs roster would have been insane if Cavs hadn't traded Wiggins, Miami 1st, Their 2016 1st, Zeller , OKC pick and Memphis..
since probably The Cavs would have acquired a decent rim protector instead of Mozgov.
thin k about it for a moment.

Altough if LBJ demanded that trade to be done then this deal is fine.

[Birdie]

Regardless of how the Cavs perform in the playoffs, I think the team should explore trading Kevin Love in the offseason once he picks up his option. With the way he is utilized, he will not be worth the money that will eventually be given to him. Guys like Mozgov and Thompson will eventually get paid and Cavs will be better off saving any semblance of cap space for stars or veterans that will want to play for your team. You could get a stretch-four elsewhere at a cheaper price. Celtics will be a good trade partner involving Love. Squeeze as much first round picks as you can get.

Well, Griffin should have thought about it before hand, before he gave all those assets away since Love is best used as a stretch four when Irving and LBJ are on the court and that is a fact.
Cavs roster would have been insane if Cavs hadn't traded Wiggins, Miami 1st, Their 2016 1st, Zeller , OKC pick and Memphis..
since probably The Cavs would have acquired a decent rim protector instead of Mozgov.
thin k about it for a moment.

Altough if LBJ demanded that trade to be done then this deal is fine.

Both of you are shortsighted in your comments and parroting the same ole tired anti-KLove storyline. The closest "stretch 4" you speak of that is EVEN close to K-Love's production would be Paul Milsap. There is no "stretch 4" currently in the league that can shoot the 3 like KLove and go down into the block, if need be, while also being able to AT LEAST avg 10+reb a game. I'd rather have a 27 year old KLove than a 30 going on 31 Milsap for the next 5 years. This notion because KLove avg 26-13 in hell hole MIN as THE 1st option and where he had his hands on the ball for 75% of their possessions is not even comparable to what's going on with the Cavs this year is just plain wrong to be used as some kind of measuring stick in measuring the worth of KLove.

For one, if we don't trade Zeller, we don't get LBJ since we don't have the space to sign him. Well, then you go, well, we could've traded AB or Dion or Carrick Felix or Alonzo Gee instead of Zellers 1.7mil contract but then all the other dominoes change going forward. Maybe BOS wouldn't do the deal without Zeller and our 20161st (which really had no value because LBJ was back and most likely would prob fall below 24-30 anyways, in order to off-load Jack/Kasarev contracts.

OK, we keep Wiggins. Who is our starting PF for the season? Tristan? Who is his backup? AB? Yea, ok. I doubt Shawn Marion signs knowing Love isn't here. JJ & Mike Miller prob. still sign though.

You still think we get JR/Shump/Moz with the same exact package? Doubtful. That MIA/MEM pick isn't as valuable as it appeared to be.

The team as constructed is probably the best blend of youth/vet savvy/lineup flexibility type rotations that LBJ has ever played with in his 12 years. In LBJ's 1st run with the Cavs, his 2nd/3rd option was non-existent and the rest of the pieces around him, while they succeeded, they were all at the tail ends of their primes if not just plain done. The best youth (under 25) that LBJ played with during that time was Carlos Boozer, Drew Gooden, JJ Hickson, Boobie Gibson, Delonte West, who were productive members of the rotation but nowhere close to being All-Stars/All-NBA type players. In MIA, it was only Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole (PUKE). Kyrie alone trumps all those sad sacks LBJ had to endure. Throw in a 27 year old KLove as your 3rd option and LBJ has a younger version of what he created with DWade/Bosh with the possibility of being a better Big 3 than his MIA years because Wade/Bosh were right in their prime when they joined up, Kyrie isn't there yet and Love is just getting started/in it.

The only thing I can put my finger on as to why some might feel KLove is a "bust" is that your expectations were SOOOOO high that because this bar didn't get reached that it's just easy to say it was a complete bust. Umm, Cavs went from 22nd last year to 7th in record along with clinching the 2 seed in the East AND improving the win total by 18 games and counting. Just because we didn't go 75-7 and KLove didn't avg 20 and 11, that this was a complete bust year? Please. You know how many teams would kill to have our combination of players?

Andrew Wiggins is at 16-64. Not entirely his fault since I think Flip is a bad coach for him but while I think he will be a great player, he is not going to enjoy 4 years of losing which MIN seems destined to do. 4 years from now, Andrew Wiggins most likely will be a great stats, bad team, as he plots his move to go back home and play for TOR. Sorry Min, it's destiny.

And we can throw this nugget out there, what would've happened had Embiid not been hurt? He most def. would've been the #1 pick. I'd be drooling if we had Embiid next to Lebron but do we still get Love for AB/Dion only? Would, coulda, shoulda.

[SaiCLE]

Smh Love will be fine. All that matters right now is giving our big 3 rest right now. Even if we lose every game the rest of this season it won't matter because none of these teams can beat us in series.

[Worst_to_First]

Regardless of how the Cavs perform in the playoffs, I think the team should explore trading Kevin Love in the offseason once he picks up his option. With the way he is utilized, he will not be worth the money that will eventually be given to him. Guys like Mozgov and Thompson will eventually get paid and Cavs will be better off saving any semblance of cap space for stars or veterans that will want to play for your team. You could get a stretch-four elsewhere at a cheaper price. Celtics will be a good trade partner involving Love. Squeeze as much first round picks as you can get.

Well, Griffin should have thought about it before hand, before he gave all those assets away since Love is best used as a stretch four when Irving and LBJ are on the court and that is a fact.
Cavs roster would have been insane if Cavs hadn't traded Wiggins, Miami 1st, Their 2016 1st, Zeller , OKC pick and Memphis..
since probably The Cavs would have acquired a decent rim protector instead of Mozgov.
thin k about it for a moment.

Altough if LBJ demanded that trade to be done then this deal is fine.

At that time, it depended on which one do you think is a better lineup (setting aside what the bench looks like):

Irving / Waiters / LeBron / Love / Varejao

OR

Irving / Wiggins / LeBron / TT / Varejao

The trade seemed like a smart move by Griffin but in the end the best move that he did and the one that gives the Cavs the championship this year is the acquisition of Mozgov. Moving forward, Cavs can win with or without Love. Love is still a productive player regardless but as a GM you also look for the most 'optimal' lineup with your money.

[Worst_to_First]

Regardless of how the Cavs perform in the playoffs, I think the team should explore trading Kevin Love in the offseason once he picks up his option. With the way he is utilized, he will not be worth the money that will eventually be given to him. Guys like Mozgov and Thompson will eventually get paid and Cavs will be better off saving any semblance of cap space for stars or veterans that will want to play for your team. You could get a stretch-four elsewhere at a cheaper price. Celtics will be a good trade partner involving Love. Squeeze as much first round picks as you can get.

Well, Griffin should have thought about it before hand, before he gave all those assets away since Love is best used as a stretch four when Irving and LBJ are on the court and that is a fact.
Cavs roster would have been insane if Cavs hadn't traded Wiggins, Miami 1st, Their 2016 1st, Zeller , OKC pick and Memphis..
since probably The Cavs would have acquired a decent rim protector instead of Mozgov.
thin k about it for a moment.

Altough if LBJ demanded that trade to be done then this deal is fine.

Both of you are shortsighted in your comments and parroting the same ole tired anti-KLove storyline. The closest "stretch 4" you speak of that is EVEN close to K-Love's production would be Paul Milsap. There is no "stretch 4" currently in the league that can shoot the 3 like KLove and go down into the block, if need be, while also being able to AT LEAST avg 10+reb a game. I'd rather have a 27 year old KLove than a 30 going on 31 Milsap for the next 5 years. This notion because KLove avg 26-13 in hell hole MIN as THE 1st option and where he had his hands on the ball for 75% of their possessions is not even comparable to what's going on with the Cavs is just plain wrong to be used as some kind of measuring stick in the worth of KLove.

For one, if we don't trade Zeller, we don't get LBJ since we don't have the space to sign him. Well, then you go, well, we could've traded AB or Dion or Carrick Felix or Alonzo Gee instead of Zellers 1.7mil contract but then all the other dominoes change going forward. Maybe BOS wouldn't do the deal without Zeller and our 20161st (which really had no value because LBJ was back and most likely would prob fall below 24-30 anyways, in order to off-load Jack/Kasarev contracts.

OK, we keep Wiggins. Who is our starting PF for the season? Tristan? Who is his backup? AB? Yea, ok. I doubt Shawn Marion signs knowing Love isn't here. JJ & Mike Miller prob. still sign though.

You still think we get JR/Shump/Moz with the same exact package? Doubtful. That MIA/MEM pick isn't as valuable as it appeared to be.

The team as constructed is probably they best blend of youth/vet savvy/lineup flexibility type rotations that LBJ has ever played with in his 12 years. In LBJ's 1st run with the Cavs, his 2nd/3rd option was non-existant and the rest of the pieces around him, while they succeeded, they were all at the tail ends of their primes if not just plain done. The best youth (under 25) that LBJ played with during that time was Carlos Boozer, Drew Gooden, JJ Hickson, Boobie Gibson, Delonte West who were productive members of the rotation but nowhere close to being All-Stats/All-NBA type players. In MIA, it was only Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole (PUKE). Kyrie alone trumps all those sad sacks LBJ had to endure. Throw in a 27 year old KLove as your 3rd option and LBJ has a younger version of what he created with DWade/Bosh and possibility of being a better Big 3 than his MIA years because Wade/Bosh were right in their prime when they joined, Kyrie isn't there yet and Love is in it/just getting started.

The only thing I can put my finger on as to why some might feel KLove is a "bust" is that your expectations were SOOOOO high that because this bar didn't get reached that it's just easy to say it was a complete bust. Umm, Cavs went from 22nd last year to 7th in record along with clinching the 2 seed in the East AND improving the win total by 18 games and counting. Just because we didn't go 75-7 and KLove didn't avg 20 and 11 that this was a complete bust year? Please. You know how many teams would kill to have our combination of players?

Andrew Wiggins is at 16-64. Not even entirely his fault since I think Flip is a bad coach for him but while I think he will be a great player, he is not going to enjoy 4 years of losing that badly which MIN seems destined to do. 4 years from now, Andrew Wiggins will be great stats, bad teams as he plots his move to go play for TOR. Sorry Min, it's destiny.

And we can through this nugget out there, what would've happened had Embiid not been hurt? He most def. would've been the #1 pick. I'd be drooling if we had Embiid next to Lebron but do we still get love for AB/Dion only? Would, coulda, shoulda.

Intelligently written post. But c’mon man. Paul Millsap is actually the most optimal PF I can think of for the Cavs right now. Perfect complement for LeBron regardless of the age difference that you pointed out. Basketball is played on two sides of the court.

[Birdie]

Intelligently written post. But c’mon man. Paul Millsap is actually the most optimal PF I can think of for the Cavs right now. Perfect complement for LeBron regardless of the age difference that you pointed out. Basketball is played on two sides of the court.

Thank you very much. I agree with you, I think Paul Milsap/LBJ would love playing along side one another. However, Paul Milsap has been on the best bargain contract for the past 7 years between the one he signed with Utah and then the one he signed with ATL. Paul should be making 12-15mil a year for the past 5 years of production he's been able to output. It's crazy.

It's just that I realize in using him a measuring stick against Love, we own Love, we can't go out and get Milsap in any conceivable deal that I can think of if he were to become available. People keep saying we should let Love walk or trade him, 1) we can't sign anyone outright and 2) who's gonna trade for Love knowing he'll want to leave after 1 year rental. That's what people who keep saying Love is a bum fail to point out.

[teleblaze]

It's just scary that he has back problems, and this game against Detroit was really dissapointing.
I really hope his back is not serious.

[Birdie]

It's just scary that he has back problems, and this game against Detroit was really dissapointing.
I really hope his back is not serious.

I agree. He looked horrendous. Shot was flat, seemed like he was running bow-legged all game. There were a few times Blatt yelled at him to run faster up the court and he just couldn't. His body language was just poor the entire game. Even his post game presser was depressing to watch. It just seems he does not like speaking to the media whether your team just destroyed someone by 20 or won a close game by 2. Has the same demeanor/tone for everything.

I wouldn't be surprised after the season, we'll hear he was playing with a bulging disk or something and toughed it out the entire year and that'll turn into a story in itself.

[teleblaze]

It's just scary that he has back problems, and this game against Detroit was really dissapointing.
I really hope his back is not serious.

I agree. He looked horrendous. Shot was flat, seemed like he was running bow-legged all game. There were a few times Blatt yelled at him to run faster up the court and he just couldn't. His body language was just poor the entire game. Even his post game presser was depressing to watch. It just seems he does not like speaking to the media whether your team just destroyed someone by 20 or won a close game by 2. Has the same demeanor/tone for everything.

I wouldn't be surprised after the season, we'll hear he was playing with a bulging disk or something and toughed it out the entire year and that'll turn into a story in itself.

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised either.
You know, the thing that sucks the most is his body language, his pouting, you fear he might leave you and is not commited to the team.

I can't be happy even when we win because of him, it sucks. I wouldn't feel that way if wiggins had played here, even if he played bad.
you know what I mean?

I keep thinking about it and it makes me frustrated.

[Birdie]

It's just scary that he has back problems, and this game against Detroit was really dissapointing.
I really hope his back is not serious.

I agree. He looked horrendous. Shot was flat, seemed like he was running bow-legged all game. There were a few times Blatt yelled at him to run faster up the court and he just couldn't. His body language was just poor the entire game. Even his post game presser was depressing to watch. It just seems he does not like speaking to the media whether your team just destroyed someone by 20 or won a close game by 2. Has the same demeanor/tone for everything.

I wouldn't be surprised after the season, we'll hear he was playing with a bulging disk or something and toughed it out the entire year and that'll turn into a story in itself.

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised either.
You know, the thing that sucks the most is his body language, his pouting, you fear he might leave you and is not commited to the team.

I can't be happy even when we win because of him, it sucks. I wouldn't feel that way if wiggins had played here, even if he played bad.
you know what I mean?

I keep thinking about it and it makes me frustrated.

I totally understand where you're coming from. However, I'm taking a half-glass full approach. If he is indeed banged up, I guess, you couldn't ask for more than what he's outputting, in reality.

I do agree though, when he misses a shot, a bunny or bricks wide open shots, it's as if he goes into, ah shucks, I completely blew it and sulks while his man sprints down the court and he takes his good ole time (maybe hurt, maybe not) to get back and we get caught playing scrambling D. That's most frustrating on my part at times.

But I just don't get the sense he's unhappy being on the team. He might be unhappy with his role but again, this is all new to him. He's never won like this. He's never played with players like this. I think the biggest difference might be that he actually is being held accountable for when he screws up or looks to be lacking effort. I've seen LBJ and most recently Kyrie chirping in his ear when he's late on a rotation or just gets out of the way because he doesn't want to get dunked on or take a charge (which he does a lot when he misses an assignment). Now in fairness, I can't put ALL our interior D mixups on him because since Mozzy came over, it's def. tightened up. But I think overall, he has improved quite a bit from his ole defense earlier in the year and from when he was in Minnesota. I just think there is something out of whack with his back that tightens up during the game because when he starts the game, he looks fresh and bouncing all over and by the 4th, he looks like he's been in a 3 car accident. It's crazy.

I feel you on him playing bad even when we win. I'm like, man, if only he was consistent, we'd be blowing teams out on a nightly basis. He always has like 2-4 WIDE open 3's that he just straight up bricks. I always sit there like, he hits 1-3 of those each game and he easily avg 20pts a game. I just believe that is just a confidence issue/possible health issue he can clean up which is why I believe he's AT least opting in and will have a full summer/another training camp under the direction of the Cavs. There shouldn't be much roster turnover and I will think the team will be even that more deadly next season because they'll be hungry regardless if we win it all this year or come up short. I think the players realize, this is the best situation they can be in.

And if he wants to leave and be a great stats, bad team, then so be it. I think LBJ + Kyrie is attractive enough combo for other potential players who wouldn't mind teaming up with LeBron for his twilight and Ky's prime. I'm not worried either way. I think CLE is better positioned to attract talent as opposed to the first LBJ run because LBJ has those 2 chips. We shall see.

[teleblaze]

I agree. He looked horrendous. Shot was flat, seemed like he was running bow-legged all game. There were a few times Blatt yelled at him to run faster up the court and he just couldn't. His body language was just poor the entire game. Even his post game presser was depressing to watch. It just seems he does not like speaking to the media whether your team just destroyed someone by 20 or won a close game by 2. Has the same demeanor/tone for everything.

I wouldn't be surprised after the season, we'll hear he was playing with a bulging disk or something and toughed it out the entire year and that'll turn into a story in itself.

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised either.
You know, the thing that sucks the most is his body language, his pouting, you fear he might leave you and is not commited to the team.

I can't be happy even when we win because of him, it sucks. I wouldn't feel that way if wiggins had played here, even if he played bad.
you know what I mean?

I keep thinking about it and it makes me frustrated.

I totally understand where you're coming from. However, I'm taking a half-glass full approach. If he is indeed banged up, I guess, you couldn't ask for more than what he's outputting, in reality.

I do agree though, when he misses a shot, a bunny or bricks wide open shots, it's as if he goes into, ah shucks, I completely blew it and sulks while his man sprints down the court and he takes his good ole time (maybe hurt, maybe not) to get back and we get caught playing scrambling D. That's most frustrating on my part at times.

But I just don't get the sense he's unhappy being on the team. He might be unhappy with his role but again, this is all new to him. He's never won like this. He's never played with players like this. I think the biggest difference might be that he actually is being held accountable for when he screws up or looks to be lacking effort. I've seen LBJ and most recently Kyrie chirping in his ear when he's late on a rotation or just gets out of the way because he doesn't want to get dunked on or take a charge (which he does a lot when he misses an assignment). Now in fairness, I can't put ALL our interior D mixups on him because since Mozzy came over, it's def. tightened up. But I think overall, he has improved quite a bit from his ole defense earlier in the year and from when he was in Minnesota. I just think there is something out of whack with his back that tightens up during the game because when he starts the game, he looks fresh and bouncing all over and by the 4th, he looks like he's been in a 3 car accident. It's crazy.

I feel you on him playing bad even when we win. I'm like, man, if only he was consistent, we'd be blowing teams out on a nightly basis. He always has like 2-4 WIDE open 3's that he just straight up bricks. I always sit there like, he hits 1-3 of those each game and he easily avg 20pts a game. I just believe that is just a confidence issue/possible health issue he can clean up which is why I believe he's AT least opting in and will have a full summer/another training camp under the direction of the Cavs. There shouldn't be much roster turnover and I will think the team will be even that more deadly next season because they'll be hungry regardless if we win it all this year or come up short. I think the players realize, this is the best situation they can be in.

And if he wants to leave and be a great stats, bad team, then so be it. I think LBJ + Kyrie is attractive enough combo for other potential players who wouldn't mind teaming up with LeBron for his twilight and Ky's prime. I'm not worried either way. I think CLE is better positioned to attract talent as opposed to the first LBJ run because LBJ has those 2 chips. We shall see.

Thanks for the reply.

Thing is what if Cavs lock him up to a max multi year contract and he has chronic back issues and he is just half assing through the seasons and we are capped out?
I'm also afraid of that.
He doesn't look like a winner to me and I jut wanna see a smile out of him, a grin, him running a fast break.
you can't really ask Blatt to post Klove since he isn't that good there judging by this season, especially when u you have LBJ and Kyrie that could basicly be as effective or more than him scoring the basketball, This is why I want more Pick and Pop with LBJ and Kyrie from the 2pt, you know?
I want his back healed if it's possible.. I have a bad back and it doesn't heal and I don't think u can heal a bad bad especially with the NBA shedule.

[Birdie]

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised either.
You know, the thing that sucks the most is his body language, his pouting, you fear he might leave you and is not commited to the team.

I can't be happy even when we win because of him, it sucks. I wouldn't feel that way if wiggins had played here, even if he played bad.
you know what I mean?

I keep thinking about it and it makes me frustrated.

I totally understand where you're coming from. However, I'm taking a half-glass full approach. If he is indeed banged up, I guess, you couldn't ask for more than what he's outputting, in reality.

I do agree though, when he misses a shot, a bunny or bricks wide open shots, it's as if he goes into, ah shucks, I completely blew it and sulks while his man sprints down the court and he takes his good ole time (maybe hurt, maybe not) to get back and we get caught playing scrambling D. That's most frustrating on my part at times.

But I just don't get the sense he's unhappy being on the team. He might be unhappy with his role but again, this is all new to him. He's never won like this. He's never played with players like this. I think the biggest difference might be that he actually is being held accountable for when he screws up or looks to be lacking effort. I've seen LBJ and most recently Kyrie chirping in his ear when he's late on a rotation or just gets out of the way because he doesn't want to get dunked on or take a charge (which he does a lot when he misses an assignment). Now in fairness, I can't put ALL our interior D mixups on him because since Mozzy came over, it's def. tightened up. But I think overall, he has improved quite a bit from his ole defense earlier in the year and from when he was in Minnesota. I just think there is something out of whack with his back that tightens up during the game because when he starts the game, he looks fresh and bouncing all over and by the 4th, he looks like he's been in a 3 car accident. It's crazy.

I feel you on him playing bad even when we win. I'm like, man, if only he was consistent, we'd be blowing teams out on a nightly basis. He always has like 2-4 WIDE open 3's that he just straight up bricks. I always sit there like, he hits 1-3 of those each game and he easily avg 20pts a game. I just believe that is just a confidence issue/possible health issue he can clean up which is why I believe he's AT least opting in and will have a full summer/another training camp under the direction of the Cavs. There shouldn't be much roster turnover and I will think the team will be even that more deadly next season because they'll be hungry regardless if we win it all this year or come up short. I think the players realize, this is the best situation they can be in.

And if he wants to leave and be a great stats, bad team, then so be it. I think LBJ + Kyrie is attractive enough combo for other potential players who wouldn't mind teaming up with LeBron for his twilight and Ky's prime. I'm not worried either way. I think CLE is better positioned to attract talent as opposed to the first LBJ run because LBJ has those 2 chips. We shall see.

Thanks for the reply.

Thing is what if Cavs lock him up to a max multi year contract and he has chronic back issues and he is just half assing through the seasons and we are capped out?
I'm also afraid of that.
He doesn't look like a winner to me and I jut wanna see a smile out of him, a grin, him running a fast break.
you can't really ask Blatt to post Klove since he isn't that good there judging by this season, especially when u you have LBJ and Kyrie that could basicly be as effective or more than him scoring the basketball, This is why I want more Pick and Pop with LBJ and Kyrie from the 2pt, you know?
I want his back healed if it's possible.. I have a bad back and it doesn't heal and I don't think u can heal a bad bad especially with the NBA shedule.

Well, bad back or no, I think between Cleveland housing 2 of the most world renowned first class hospitals in the world between University & Cleveland Clinic, I'd hope the Cavs medical staff wouldn't sign off on giving a guy 100mil if he has a balky back. Hopefully.

I'm totally with you on the fear of what a bad back can do to someone. It just sucks. But I think Mike Miller is an example that you can AT least eek something out because last year in Memphis, he looked like a completely different player than what he landed up being in MIA. When I watched MIA games, I hurt anytime I saw MM run up and down the floor but when I saw him play in MEM, it was like he was a different player. Unfortunately, we got MIA MM instead of MEM one and Blatt didn't hesitate for a second to keep him planted on the bench because he's a defensive liability out there for as prolific his offense might be. So yea, it's a risk no matter what but I think, if there isn't record of some longterm damage, it's still a very good risk to take in locking up Love because the "threat" of him draining a 3 spaces the floor so well for LBJ/Kyrie to drive and kick it if need be. And even with a bad back, he's still rebounding at a decent clip though his last few games have been trash. But the points you raise are concerns every Cavs fans should have in the back of their mind.

While I agree/think the Kyrie/LBJ pick n pop is deadly, I don't discount the LBJ/Love pick n pop. I just wish they ran more elbow action as opposed to outside of the key and let Kev drain a few 15-19 footers a la like what IND does for David West where he is deadly on the elbows. Cavs always start out with Kev shooting a wide open 3 at most starts of the game when LBJ is doubled and he does his behind the back pass to Love for the 3. Give him something closer to get some rhythm going. I wouldn't mind that.

I liked some of the sets they ran in the DET game with LBJ slashing more and running PnR with Kyrie. If JR shoots like he did in yesterday's game during the playoffs, oh baby. Anything K Love contributes will be gravy.

[teleblaze]

I totally understand where you're coming from. However, I'm taking a half-glass full approach. If he is indeed banged up, I guess, you couldn't ask for more than what he's outputting, in reality.

I do agree though, when he misses a shot, a bunny or bricks wide open shots, it's as if he goes into, ah shucks, I completely blew it and sulks while his man sprints down the court and he takes his good ole time (maybe hurt, maybe not) to get back and we get caught playing scrambling D. That's most frustrating on my part at times.

But I just don't get the sense he's unhappy being on the team. He might be unhappy with his role but again, this is all new to him. He's never won like this. He's never played with players like this. I think the biggest difference might be that he actually is being held accountable for when he screws up or looks to be lacking effort. I've seen LBJ and most recently Kyrie chirping in his ear when he's late on a rotation or just gets out of the way because he doesn't want to get dunked on or take a charge (which he does a lot when he misses an assignment). Now in fairness, I can't put ALL our interior D mixups on him because since Mozzy came over, it's def. tightened up. But I think overall, he has improved quite a bit from his ole defense earlier in the year and from when he was in Minnesota. I just think there is something out of whack with his back that tightens up during the game because when he starts the game, he looks fresh and bouncing all over and by the 4th, he looks like he's been in a 3 car accident. It's crazy.

I feel you on him playing bad even when we win. I'm like, man, if only he was consistent, we'd be blowing teams out on a nightly basis. He always has like 2-4 WIDE open 3's that he just straight up bricks. I always sit there like, he hits 1-3 of those each game and he easily avg 20pts a game. I just believe that is just a confidence issue/possible health issue he can clean up which is why I believe he's AT least opting in and will have a full summer/another training camp under the direction of the Cavs. There shouldn't be much roster turnover and I will think the team will be even that more deadly next season because they'll be hungry regardless if we win it all this year or come up short. I think the players realize, this is the best situation they can be in.

And if he wants to leave and be a great stats, bad team, then so be it. I think LBJ + Kyrie is attractive enough combo for other potential players who wouldn't mind teaming up with LeBron for his twilight and Ky's prime. I'm not worried either way. I think CLE is better positioned to attract talent as opposed to the first LBJ run because LBJ has those 2 chips. We shall see.

Thanks for the reply.

Thing is what if Cavs lock him up to a max multi year contract and he has chronic back issues and he is just half assing through the seasons and we are capped out?
I'm also afraid of that.
He doesn't look like a winner to me and I jut wanna see a smile out of him, a grin, him running a fast break.
you can't really ask Blatt to post Klove since he isn't that good there judging by this season, especially when u you have LBJ and Kyrie that could basicly be as effective or more than him scoring the basketball, This is why I want more Pick and Pop with LBJ and Kyrie from the 2pt, you know?
I want his back healed if it's possible.. I have a bad back and it doesn't heal and I don't think u can heal a bad bad especially with the NBA shedule.

Well, bad back or no, I think between Cleveland housing 2 of the most world renowned first class hospitals in the world between University & Cleveland Clinic, I'd hope the Cavs medical staff wouldn't sign off on giving a guy 100mil if he has a balky back. Hopefully.

I'm totally with you on the fear of what a bad back can do to someone. It just sucks. But I think Mike Miller is an example that you can AT least eek something out because last year in Memphis, he looked like a completely different player than what he landed up being in MIA. When I watched MIA games, I hurt anytime I saw MM run up and down the floor but when I saw him play in MEM, it was like he was a different player. Unfortunately, we got MIA MM instead of MEM one and Blatt didn't hesitate for a second to keep him planted on the bench because he's a defensive liability out there for as prolific his offense might be. So yea, it's a risk no matter what but I think, if there isn't record of some longterm damage, it's still a very good risk to take in locking up Love because the "threat" of him draining a 3 spaces the floor so well for LBJ/Kyrie to drive and kick it if need be. And even with a bad back, he's still rebounding at a decent clip though his last few games have been trash. But the points you raise are concerns every Cavs fans should have in the back of their mind.

While I agree/think the Kyrie/LBJ pick n pop is deadly, I don't discount the LBJ/Love pick n pop. I just wish they ran more elbow action as opposed to outside of the key and let Kev drain a few 15-19 footers a la like what IND does for David West where he is deadly on the elbows. Cavs always start out with Kev shooting a wide open 3 at most starts of the game when LBJ is doubled and he does his behind the back pass to Love for the 3. Give him something closer to get some rhythm going. I wouldn't mind that.

I liked some of the sets they ran in the DET game with LBJ slashing more and running PnR with Kyrie. If JR shoots like he did in yesterday's game during the playoffs, oh baby. Anything K Love contributes will be gravy.

Thought about this gain, hear this out.

doesn't matter but still.

Cavs trade Bennet+filler (perhaps a draft pick) for Ryan Anderson.
Roster: PG: Kyrie, SG: Miller SF:Wiggins PF:Lebron C:Varejao.
Bench: Dion, Anderson , Thompson , JJ , Marion, Delly
kinda flawed, not worse than the roster they had at the start of the season imo, Lebron plays the PF for 17 mins or so at best.
Doesn't matter that much.
whether this roster succeeds or not it doesn't matter for us given Varejao gets injured and Dion plays like ass.
Dion traded for Smith, Shump, and OKC pick.
Cavs acquire mozgov for 2 1sts.

New Lineup:Kyrie,JR, LBJ, Anderson , Mozgov. either lebron starts at the 4 or Anderson, the anderson lineup is for opening a big lead in the 1st quarter.

Bench: Shump, JJ, Wiggins, TT, Miller, Marion, Delly.

Tons of flexibility and Versatility for closing out the 4th quarter, going small, playing D, whatever is needed, you make adjustments without your Star player Love, crying for not playing in the 4th.

Team has much better bench, better future, and more cap flexibility, you don't have to pay max for Love and sign even more FA's when the cap increases.
this roster playing LBJ at 4 is only for 1 year, cavs would get Millsap hopefully in FA.

Cavs either have the Miami pick or not, doesn't matter.
they draft a PG, they don't need a SF now and draft a decent Center.

This Cavs team is the most complete team in the NBA by far and would have had the best future in the NBA.

and this is all doable.

Am I wrong?