Cleveland Cavaliers: 4 possible outcomes for Kevin Love

1. Win with Love

The truth about Kevin Love is that he’s never got to be Kevin Love in a Cavaliers uniform. Three of his four years with the Wine & Gold were spent playing third fiddle to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

This past season, Love inserted himself some as the team’s second option.

Now, as the last man standing, Love will be the focal point of Ty Lue’s offense (if there is such a thing).

This post-LeBron team is in much better shape than the one that took the court in 2011.

Collin Sexton is an exciting rookie. Larry Nance is a really, really good NBA player. Kyle Korver is till one of the game’s premier shooters. Cedi Osman has grit. He may not be an All-Star, but the very least, he looks like a contributor. Thompson’s overpaid, the guy can cleans the offensive glass like his life depends on it. Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson are players who have mostly disappointed early in their careers, but potential is still there.

Basically, the Cavs would be playing for a sixth or seventh seed, and losing early in the playoffs. But what’s the alternative? Tanking? Ask the Cavaliers fans with courtside who were made to sign new contracts during this past season how they feel about watching losing basketball.

Go with Love for a little while and who knows what opportunities will present themselves to the Cavs’ front office. Koby Altman and Mike Gansey are doing the best they can in a tough situation.

When thinking back to 2011, it’s important to remember the Cavs’ didn’t score Kyrie Irving with their own lottery pick. They took on the bad contract of Baron Davis to get that selection.

The point is you never know who or what assets become available. If the Cavs are willing to spend money to get better (and I have no reason to believe they won’t),  opportunities are endless as other organization look to shed contracts or rid themselves of players they no longer believe they’ll be able to keep long term.