Cup of Cavs

Cup of Cavs for Feb. 5, 2019: Waiting for Kevin Love

Plus, the trade rumor mill is kicking into high gear.

By Chris Manning Feb 5, 2019, 4:00am CST

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Welcome to the second edition of Cup of Cavs. Again, I’d love your feedback on this becoming a daily Fear the Sword post, what you think would make better, if it should be sent out as newsletter too, etc.

Take of the day

Kevin Love, in addition to Cedi Osman, will not play Tuesday against the Celtics. This isn’t a surprise, as Larry Drew said as much on Saturday before the Cavs played the Mavericks. Interestingly, however, Drew did say that he hoped Love would play before the All-Star break.

“He’s coming along,” Drew said. “He’s participating in all of the things that we’re doing, all the contact stuff that we’re doing. He’s moving up the floor very well. Right now, he’s day to day until we get total clearance.”

It would 100 percent be a good thing for Love to return. His four games played this season and the Cavs are worse off for it. If he can play, and be something like the offensive hub Cleveland is paying him to be, it’s only going to make everyone better and take pressure of Collin Sexton in particular.

That being said, Love should not be rushed back — which does seem to be the approach the Cavs have taken. This isn’t a playoff team, so it’s not like he’ll save the season in that regard. And considering he has an injury history, he should be 100 percent when he comes back and handled with care moving forward.

His health matters when he returns too. Considering Love’s future — broadly speaking — is to be on the Cavs for the next three years or to be traded in the summer for maximum value, it’s in the team’s best interest to keep him healthy.

Waiting on Love hasn’t been fun. But would waiting just a little longer, just to be safe, be the worst idea? Prediction: Love’s first game is next Monday, at home against the Knicks.