Cavs All-Star Kevin Love has heard his name tossed about in several trade scenarios for the past few weeks. Whether or not the former UCLA standout will actually be traded remains to be seen, but it sounds like he’d like to stay in Cleveland:
“I would love to be here,” Love told Chris Fedor of cleveland.com after Monday’s practice session. “Would just love to get through a whole season healthy just because I’ve had nagging things that have taken time and been a little bit unlucky, but I would like to play ball here.”
Love, now 30 years of age, is currently sidelined due to a foot injury. A big toe injury, more specifically. The Cavs thought he would be well enough to play by mid-January, but it seems that won’t be the case:
“I don’t know,” Love said of returning in mid-January. “It’s really tough for me to say because I don’t know how my foot is going to respond. I didn’t know what the doctor was going to say in New York, but I think just if I’m feeling good and I progress well than hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. I just don’t know when it’s going to be.”
Love had surgery to remove cartilage and have fluid drained from the base of the big toe on Nov. 2. Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York performed the procedure. The Cavs said he would be re-evaluated in six weeks.
The six weeks have passed, and Love’s follow-up appointment went reasonably well. As a result, the Cavs are allowing him to participate in some light activities, including some treadmill work. However, he’s still not running:
“I think just kind of go with the symptoms,” Love said. “Like if I’m feeling anything we’ll just kind of keep it at that pace, just a progression from here. But I think I’ll get more of an idea of that over the next couple weeks and then from there there will be even more progression and get out on the court. I don’t know when I’ll be able to go one on one, two on two, three on three, but I think that’s all part of the next few weeks I’d say.”
Injuries can be frustrating, but Love, who signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavs over the summer, says he isn’t ready to call it quits on this season yet:
“That’s never really been the thought process — at least for me,” Love said. “I know going out there, I want to play. I want to be out there with those guys. I feel like I would be letting my teammates down and letting LD (Larry Drew) and the coaching staff down if I didn’t get out there and play and get out there and play as soon as I could so long as I’m healthy.
“I would just hope to come back whether it be right before All-Star break, after All-Star break just things to start trending in the right direction and give the fans and this organization some hope for better times that are going to be here.”
Without a doubt, the Cavs could use Love’s services on the floor, as their 8-32 overall record is currently the worst mark in the NBA. Hopefully, he’ll be back on the floor sooner rather than later.
