Kevin Love has heard it all before.
Rumors floated around Cleveland was going to trade Love in the summer of 2015 after his first season with the team. They sprung up again the next season at the trade deadline — before Love played a central role in Cleveland winning a ring. The rumors kept springing up, especially after LeBron James left. Then this past summer, Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension to stay in Cleveland.
That has not stopped the rumors.
Love was asked about the rumors and sounded unmoved by them but a little frustrated, via Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“Nothing’s changed,” Love told ESPN after Cleveland’s morning shootaround at TD Garden. “What I mean by that is, since I got here they’ve been … since I f—ing got here, there’s been talk of me being traded, so it’s nothing different. If they decide to go that way, I’ve just got to know it’s part of the business, or if we decide to go that way, it’s part of the business.
“Truthfully, I don’t know how it’s going to play out, because I see both sides.”
This time it feels like Love could get moved, if not at the trade deadline then this summer — and he wants to go to a contender.
The logic is simple: Cleveland is rebuilding, Love is still a stretch four and good rebounder who can help a playoff team. Love is averaging 16.1 points and 10.5 rebounds a game, is shooting 37.1 percent from three, and remains one of the best outlet passers in the game. Boston, Denver, Portland and a host of other teams could use him this season.
The challenge is that massive contract, which is why a trade may be put off until next summer.
Whatever happens, Love isn’t going to stress over it.
