When the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Kevin Love in the offseason, most NBA analysts predicted that the All-Star forward will help LeBron James win his first NBA title for his hometown, but the team has yet to live up to expectations this season.
The Cavaliers, who have one of the strongest rosters on paper this season, are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with their 18-11 record. Their recent struggles prompted speculation that the Cavaliers might eventually decide to part ways with Love before he hits free agency in the summer.
Love, who was traded to Cleveland in exchange for prospects Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett in the offseason, is averaging 17.0 points and 10.2 rebounds, which are way below his numbers last season - 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds.
Talks about a possible trade involving Love intensified after Cavaliers coach David Blatt decided to bench Love during the fourth period of their 98-89 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday, which worked well as Cleveland managed to match up well with the Magic on the defensive end of the floor.
NBA analyst Bill Simmons of Grantland said that Blatt's decision to bench Love for the entire fourth period made him wonder if Cleveland will hold onto the 26-year-old forward beyond the current season.
"Kevin Love's future is officially getting interesting," Simmons posted on Twitter. "Not playing in 4th Q in Orlando? That's it, I'm cuing up the Trade Machine."
But for James, Love will continue to be a vital factor to their squad as the season progresses. The four-time MVP praised the seven-year veteran for his reaction to the benching against the young Magic squad.
"Tonight we took a step forward. With Kevin Love's sacrifice in the fourth quarter, he didn't play and was helping, cheering, slapping hands, every time we came to the sideline, we took a step forward in that," James said via ESPN. "And I hope everyone seen that. I hope everyone saw it. You know I did, I saw it."
Love has yet to adjust to his new role in Cleveland, but most analysts are convinced that the former UCLA standout will eventually decide to stay when he hits free agency next summer.
