Kevin Love says he won’t return until after the new year

On Tuesday, Cavs forward Kevin Love said that he expects to remain out until “at least the new year.” Love, who had surgery to fix his injured left toe on Nov. 2, updated his status while appearing on ESPN’s ‘The Jump’ alongside Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson.

Love, who was not in a boot while on the show, said he expects to be in-and-out of the boot for around two more weeks. If Love indeed does not return until 2019, then he will ultimately be out for longer than the originally estimated six-week timeline.

“There’s just no telling at this time with the weight-bearing injury what it is going to be like moving forward, but I expect to be back sometime after the new year,” he said.

The league-worst Cavs could certainly use Love back. Their offense is the fifth-worst in the league, per nba.com/stats, and shoot the fewest three-pointers in the league. Love, while not fixing all of Cleveland’s issues, could help there. And it’d be good for Collin Sexton to get some playing time with someone at Love’s level and particular skill set.

Love has played in just four games this year, averaging 19 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavs this summer. If the team did decide to deal him, the earliest they could do so would be on Jan. 23.