CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It’s the latest edition of Hey, Chris!
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Hey, Chris: What will the Cleveland Cavaliers do about Kevin Love now that Lauri Markkanen is on the roster? -- Jack, Delaware
Hey Jack (and so many others): The Love situation is as simple -- and complicated -- as it’s been for the last few years. In early August, shortly after Team USA architect Jerry Colangelo blasted Love for pulling out of the Olympics, Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff spoke with Love. At that point, sources say, Love told Bickerstaff he was healthy and preparing to play 5 on 5. In every conversation with Love since that point, Bickerstaff has left feeling like the embattled veteran is in a good place mentally, motivated to silence the noise around him.
So, what does that ultimately mean? Who knows?
Love spoke about being in a great place -- physically and mentally -- ahead of the 2020-21 season. He discussed finding joy after a pandemic-altered year. And then … it all changed. Again. This time, because of a severe calf injury that sidelined him for all but 25 games.
Despite plenty of chatter about a trade or buyout, Love is still on the roster and the Cavs are preparing to have him for training camp. Love’s agent recently said there was no interest in a buyout. The Cavs view the buyout situation the same -- unless Love agrees to give back a significant chunk of the $60 million owed to him over the next two seasons or the organization starts to believe having him around creates a toxic environment. The Cavs aren’t willing to attach an asset (draft pick or young player) to dump his salary in a trade.
The two are (reluctantly) stuck with each other.
In an ideal scenario, the Larry Nance Jr. trade would’ve decluttered the frontcourt. Not so much. The Cavs weren’t able to find a Nance deal that brought back a much-needed shooting wing. Instead, they sent him away in a three-team trade for Markkanen -- a sweet-shooting 7-footer who is a facsimile of a younger Love.
Over the last three years, as Love has spent most of his time on the sidelines, the Cavs have lamented a lack of 3-point threats and floor-spacing. It became clear how much they missed him. Beyond everything else, acquiring Markkanen was the first step toward the organization admitting they don’t have any expectations for Love this coming season. How could they?
With this roster setup, anything the Cavs get from Love will be a bonus as opposed to a necessity.
Still, uncomfortable conversations are coming. General manager Koby Altman knows it. So does Bickerstaff, who is planning for a long talk with Love soon. While it helps that Bickerstaff and Love have a longstanding relationship and communication is one of the coach’s strengths, it won’t be easy. Telling Love, a prideful and emotional player, it’s time to take a step back on a contending team with championship aspirations is one thing. But for a group that finished with 60 combined wins over the last three seasons and is projected to have one of the conference’s worst records once more? That only makes the pill tougher to swallow.
Trimming Love’s minutes is the only way to ensure consistent playing time for Cleveland’s core frontcourt pieces -- Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Markkanen.
Right or wrong, Bickerstaff is approaching the situation as if he has 96 available minutes at power forward and center.
Allen will start at center. Pencil Mobley in at the 4. That’s all but certain. There’s almost no way to keep the most important -- and most talented -- piece of this rebuild out of the starting lineup provided Mobley looks competent and capable during camp. Allen and Mobley are not only the frontcourt of the future but also the present.
That means Markkanen taking a sixth man role -- and still getting starter minutes. There’s also Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens and Mfiondu Kabengele. As cleveland.com reported recently, there’s been conversations about limiting Love’s role to maximize effectiveness and perhaps keep him healthy. 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.
Hey, Chris: What are your expectations for Evan Mobley after watching him in Summer League? -- John, Chagrin Falls
Hey, John: It’s never ideal to make declarations based on Summer League. There are countless ancillary factors that tie into a player’s performance. Mobley looked as advertised. Both with his strengths and weaknesses. This upcoming rookie season requires the same level-headed assessment as Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro. Maybe even more so given the history of bigs a how much longer the developmental curve can be.
Chris Bosh, one of Mobley’s most common NBA comparisons, averaged 11.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 assists in 33.5 minutes. He shot 45.9% from the field and went 5-of-14 (35.7%) from 3-point range.
Anthony Davis averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 28.8 minutes. He also shot 51.6% from the field and attempted six 3-pointers, missing all of them.
Kevin Garnett didn’t have a great statistical start to his career either, averaging just 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.8 assists in 28.7 minutes.
Those are just a few examples. Mobley’s rookie campaign will be defined less by production and more by impact.
Hey, Chris: Since finding good wing players is difficult, was letting Taurean Prince go for Ricky Rubio really a good idea? -- Bob, Tallahassee, Florida
Hey, Bob: I get your stance. Even though the deal slightly weakens Cleveland’s wing depth and 3-point shooting, Prince wouldn’t have had the same impact I expect from Rubio -- a better player and fit given the lack of veteran leadership and ball-handling. Rubio is a starter-quality point guard. Prince is a backup wing.
The Cavs attempted to sign someone to replace Prince. They remain active in the trade market. The Cavs could attach some protections to their 2022 first-rounder and make that available. They also have a pair of valuable seconds (Houston and San Antonio). Don’t rule them out as a third team in a Ben Simmons deal, jumping in and stealing a core player like they did with Brooklyn in January -- or trying to snag Simmons. Sources say former first-round pick Denzel Valentine is interested in coming to Cleveland. Garrison Matthews remains a possibility.
Prince’s departure also creates an opportunity for oft-injured 2019 No. 26 pick Dylan Windler, who brings the exact skill set Cleveland seeks. But sources say it’s not a certainty Windler is ready for the start of camp following April surgery on his left knee.
Hey, Chris: Why didn’t the Cavs acquire a second-round pick this year? -- Bill, Strongsville
Hey, Bill: The front office went into draft night hoping to acquire another pick, either in the first or second round. They were active. Just didn’t find the right match.
Part of it was the value they placed on the available players at the time, not believing it aligned with what they would’ve had to give up. They also were a bit more protective of their future assets following an agreed-to deal for Rubio hours before the draft started, giving Minnesota a future second-rounder along with Prince. And truthfully, there’s not much room for another young player. If anything, an argument could be made that Cleveland’s roster is littered with too much inexperience that could prevent it from taking big steps in the win column. It’s fair to criticize their lack of second-round additions during this post-LeBron James era. Those players can cheaply fill out the bottom of the bench. But a trade requires more than one team.
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