KEVIN LOVE

Kevin Love

Aunque lo más probable es que Kevin Love esté fuera de las canchas un mínimo de dos semanas –entre dos y cuatro partidos de las semifinales de conferencia– por su dislocación de hombro, los Cavaliers esperarán una segunda opinión para certificar el tiempo que el ala-pívot tendrá de parón, informa Brian Windhorst, periodista de ESPN.

Love se dislocó el hombro en el partido en el que los Cavs eliminaron a los Celtics, anoche, en una acción en la que pugnó por la posición con Kelly Olynyk.

De hecho, el propio jugador de Cleveland acusó al de Boston de haberle lesionado a propósito. Olynyk dijo después del choque de las acusaciones de intencionalidad por parte de Love eran “ridículas” y que ya había tratado de contactar con Love para pedirle disculpas.

Según ha publicado Adrian Wojnarowski, de Yahoo! Sports, Los Angeles Lakers serían el equipo mejor situado para hacerse con los servicios de Kevin Love en caso de el ala-pívot decidiera salir de los Cleveland Cavaliers.

Al parecer, la opción de que el ex de los Timberwolves acabara en los Boston Celtics había ido creciendo durante la temporada, pero la lesión sufrida ayer a manos de Kelly Olynyk no parece que vaya a jugar, precisamente, a favor de las opciones de los verdes.

Love, que ha disputado una más que decente primera ronda, no ha encajado a la perfección en Ohio, y posee una cláusula que le podría permitir salir de su contrato para convertirse en agente libre este mismo verano.

Cabe recordar que el jugador nació en Santa Mónica (California) y jugó en UCLA durante su etapa universitaria.

Kevin Love‘s fit with the Cavaliers has been far from perfect.

Terrible? No. But on and off the court, there have been several examples of a player and team uncomfortable with each other.

Love has a player option for next season he should decline, whether or not he wants to stay in Cleveland. If he opts out, that would give other teams an opportunity to pitch him.

The Lakers have been rumored as a contender for months, and the Celtics are reportedly interested.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

For as much as Kevin Love has publicly resisted the discussion of free agency this season, it has been on his mind. He has never been completely comfortable in Cleveland, with his role, nor his connection to those around him. Throughout the year, league sources say, one destination grew in possibility as his exit strategy: The Boston Celtics.

Boston has been no sure thing to lure Love, but it had a better shot than most had believed. If Love left the Cavaliers, the Celtics had closed the gap on the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Obviously, Love getting injured against the Celtics throws a dent in Boston’s hopes of luring Love – because Love accused Kelly Olynyk of hurting him on purpose. Olynyk denied that and said he’s trying to contact Love, and maybe Love comes to believe Olynyk once tempers cool.

But the incident also might help the Cavaliers keep Love. They definitely had his back yesterday, and that’s on the heels of LeBron James showing a deeper understanding of Love’s challenges in Cleveland. This could strengthen Love’s bond with his current team.

On the other hand, if Love misses significant time, and the Cavaliers get bounced from the playoffs sooner than expect, this could be a lost opportunity for Love to strengthen a deeper connection with the Cavaliers. Ditto if he misses the rest of the playoffs, no matter how far Cleveland goes.

I expect the Celtics, who pursued Love last summer after his trip to Boston, to remain interested. I wouldn’t completely rule them out, either – but Sunday hurts their chances.

For the Cavaliers, it could go either way depending what happens next. I don’t think Love has made up his mind about his future, and he shouldn’t yet.

The Lakers, meanwhile, wait – one Love suitor downgraded and his current team still trying to prove its value to him.