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NBA Rumors: Lebron James puts full-court press on Kevin Love poolside

By Kyle Franzoni

Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0), forward LeBron James (23) and guard Kyrie Irving (2) pose for a photo during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0), forward LeBron James (23) and guard Kyrie Irving (2) pose for a photo during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Lebron James isn’t ready to give up on having Kevin Love re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers just yet.

The trade that brought Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers to play alongside Lebron James and Kyrie Irving was supposed to usher in a new age of basketball prowess in Cleveland. However, the best intentions don’t always work out, with rumors of infighting and injuries derailing the Cavs’ quest for the NBA title.

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With Kevin Love opting out of his contract with the Cavaliers, many thought that the now free agent Love would find a situation that was more to his liking and leave the drama in Cleveland behind after just one season. However, that may not be the case.

Rolling Stone writer Jensen Karp seems to have accidentally waded into a meeting between Lebron James and Kevin Love outside of a Los Angeles area pool, where presumably the two were talking about a possibly reunion with the Cavs.

Given the animosity that was reported between the two during the regular season, this could possibly be an indication that Lebron is extending the olive branch in hopes of bringing back the three-time All-Star as a member of his supporting cast. In fact, this sort of outpouring of affection may be doing its job, with reports coming on Sunday night that Love is considering re-signing with Cleveland.

The Cavs made the NBA Finals in Love’s first season with the team, but they did so mostly without Kevin Love or Kyrie Irving. Love was shut down for the playoffs after nearly having his arm ripped out its socket by Boston Celtics’ forward Kelly Olnyk. It was the ultimate cap to a season which was a drastic eye-opener for Love.

After averaging 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2013-14, Love was traded to the Cavaliers in exchange for number one pick Andrew Wiggins and others. However, he found things much different in Cleveland, not only playing for a contender but also as a sidekick in an offense that included not one but two other elite scorers. From the backseat, Love saw his per game totals drop to 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists this past season, all five-year lows.

To return to Cleveland, Love is expected to look for a max deal. The Cavs also face the issue of trying to fit a similar deal in for fellow forward Tristan Thompson, who they also intend to bring back. And then there is James himself, who opted out of his own deal in order to get a max deal paying him up to $22 million in 2015-16 with a second year option for 2016-17.

(h/t – The Big Lead)

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