Cavs: 3 reasons Kevin Love has very quietly become a franchise great
By Chad Porto
Kevin Love has truly become an all-time great for the Cavs.
Now that Kevin Love sits second all-time on the list for three-pointers made while wearing a Cavs jersey, it’s time to acknowledge that despite some people’s beliefs, Love is in fact a Cavs legend. He may be a fringe Hall of Fame-caliber player, and the recent rash of injuries in his post-LeBron James run with the Cavaliers won’t help but the franchise can truly call him one of the greats.
A bit of an honorable mention. Love came here in the trade that sent Minnesota Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and veteran forward Thaddeus Young from Philadelphia, plus a $6.3 million trade exception. For their involvement, the 76ers got, a 2015 NBA first-round draft choice (which became Tyus Jones), as well as guard Alexey Shved, and forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute from Minnesota.
The Cavs easily won that trade. None of the players involved in the trade are on the Timberwolves or 76ers squad, while the Cavs still have Love. That’s just one sign that the team won the trade. A winning trade for a prized player is a key sign of making him a franchise legend.
He’s in the top 10 in many categories
First up, Love is shooting up several stat categories. He’s currently second all-time in the number of three-pointers shot and made in a Cavs jersey. He’s also eighth all-time in total rebounds, sixth all-time in defensive rebounds, 10th in free-throw percentage, third in rebounds per game, first in defensive rebound percentage, eight in box plus/minus, and so many other stats.
If he finishes out his contract in Cleveland, there’s a good chance he sits atop a few of these categories all by himself.