The Cleveland Cavaliers are moving forward following the departure of LeBron James. One of the first moves the Cavs made this offseason was signing veteran big man, Channing Frye. More recently, the team inked Kevin Love to an extension, securing the All-Star through the next five seasons.
The Cavs needed to make a decision on the direction of the franchise. By extending Love, they’ve made it clear they are looking to build around Love and rookie point guard, Collin Sexton.
But for Love, why would he sign an extension with a team in flux? Well, it might be because of the aforementioned Channing Frye signing.
Twitter user Chucks93 tweeted at Frye and Love speculating that Frye’s signing helped convince Love to sign a contract extension. Frye did not dispute this claim.
Obviously, Frye is partially joking in this tweet. But there’s something to be said for Frye as a stabilizing force in the locker room. He’s heading back to Cleveland for his second stint with the Cavs after being dealt at the trade deadline in February.
Frye brings veteran leadership that the Cavs desperately need in the wake of James’ departure. He may not be the same player he once was, but the chemistry and camaraderie he brings to the team shouldn’t be underrated.
The atmosphere that Frye helps create around the team may have had an influence on Love’s decision to sign the extension. That may be somewhat of a reach, but not as much as one would think.