Re-signing Kevin Love should be the biggest priority heading into 2023

The Cleveland Cavaliers should re-sign Kevin Love.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a stacked squad but there remains one player who is key to the team’s future but is currently in limbo; Kevin Love. What a difference two seasons make, as the vaunted vet was once considered a nuisance on the Cavs in 2020-2021. His attitude and ego made him very expendable and his salary a detriment to the team.

Now, Love is a different man and a different player. A sixth man of the year contender, Love is entering the last year of his contract on a team loaded to compete this year and beyond. The only two key players who aren’t under some form of deal for 2023-2024 are Love and Caris LeVert.

LeVert may not have a place on this team and could be a trade chip, but Love has a place. Not only is he a veteran with NBA Finals experience and an NBA Championship ring to go with it, but he’s quietly become one of the franchise’s All-Time greats.

With the arrival of Donovan Mitchell, and the emergence of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland, the hope for 2022-2022 is no longer the playoffs, but now the Eastern Conference Finals at least. Those raised stakes make holding onto Love all the more necessary.

Kevin Love’s skills are exactly what the Cleveland Cavaliers need

Outside of Allen, Mobley, and maybe Dean Wade, the Cavaliers are a bit sparse on impact players at the big-man spots. That’s why holding on to Love for a few more seasons makes sense, as he can provide that impact in both the rebounding and scoring departments.

No other big man on the team does what Love can do, and I think he has another two or three seasons left in him of relevant basketball. His skillset isn’t going to decline with age, so its mostly just about keeping him healthy.

Love deserves another contract and deserves a shot at a second ring with this franchise. Mitchell’s arrival has changed everything and finding a trade for Love should honestly be the last thing the Cavs have on their minds.

A simple three-year extension, worth around $20 million for the life of the deal I think works.