Kevin Love hasn’t suited up for the Cleveland Cavaliers since before the trade deadline. The last time he logged a minute of playing time, the Cavs had a roster that included Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Dwyane Wade, and Iman Shumpert. Cleveland’s rotation is quite a bit different now.
We may find out how Love fits in with the new personnel very soon. According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, Love is eyeing a return to the court next week.
Love suffered a broken hand in a Jan. 30 loss at Detroit. He sat out the All-Star Game and has missed the Cavs’ last 17 games. Vardon reports Love is hoping to play in a March 23 home game against the Phoenix Suns. If he doesn’t make it back for that game, his next opportunity would come two nights later at Brooklyn.
The Cavs initially said Love would be sidelined for eight weeks, so a late-next-week return would put him right on schedule.
Love has missed 19 games in total this season. Cleveland is 10-9 without him. Love is averaging 17.9 points and 9.4 rebounds and shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range.
“I just want us to get as healthy as we can get so I know and obviously our coaching staff knows and we all know what we can become,” LeBron James said, according to Vardon.
Love has played in at least 60 regular-season games in each of his three previous seasons with Cleveland. It will be interesting to see how the Cavs look with Love fitting into the new rotation, which includes George Hill, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr., and Jordan Clarkson, all of whom General Manager Koby Altman and company acquired with a flurry of moves at the trade deadline.
The Cavs could really use Love back soon. They’re scrapping for playoff positioning. Cleveland (39-28) currently sits in fourth place in the East, but the 76ers, who have a breeze of a schedule down the stretch, and the Wizards are threatening to overtake them.
