The Cleveland Cavaliers’ acquisition of Lauri Markkanen was a clear indication that Kevin Love’s role with the squad is going to take a serious hit. Details have now emerged as to the exact role the former All-Star is expected to fill in the Cavs’ rotation in the upcoming season and it definitely won’t sit well with Kevin Love.
According to Cavs team insider Chris Fedor, Love could be looking at just six to 12 minutes of action per game:
“Sources say initial conversations have centered on Allen, Mobley and Markkanen falling somewhere between 26-30 minutes per night — even though it likely won’t be an even split. The low end would leave about 18 a game for Love. The higher end would only give him somewhere between 6-12 per night. Would Love be happy with such a small workload? Adding Markkanen means the answers to that question doesn’t matter nearly as much as it once did.”
18 minutes per game isn’t going to be too bad for Kevin Love, but for him to be given an allotment of just six minutes per game would be devastating. Not only will this have a catastrophic impact on Love’s career, but it also won’t do the Cavs any good, considering how the 33-year-old is expected to pocket $31.3 million this coming season.
Is Kevin Love actually willing to make such a huge sacrifice for the betterment of the squad? Or will this serve as the final straw for him as he seeks a way out of Cleveland? If it’s the latter, could the Cavs actually find a willing trade partner for an oft-injured ex-All-Star that is set to earn roughly $60 million over the next two years?
Needless to say, Love and the Cavs are caught between a rock and a hard place right now.