Cavaliers still value Kevin Love … until it’s time to trade him, of course

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reaffirmed they still value Kevin Love … for now.

If you’re looking for a lesson in Posturing 101, look no further than Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman discussing Kevin Love’s value to the team.

Addressing the media on Friday, the Cavs GM reaffirmed the franchise’s commitment to Love and his value to their ongoing rebuild around the team’s promising youngsters.

“What people don’t see is his vulnerability with the players and his teammates,” Altman said, per ESPN. “I don’t think people see his generosity. If he was an all-out bad guy and those plays that you talk about represented him, his teammates wouldn’t love him, his teammates wouldn’t want to be around him.”

Altman also said he spoke to Jarrett Allen, who loves Love, and asked him why. The center noted Love’s sense of humility, his sense of humor and the leadership he provides off the court. The Cavs are certainly saying all the right things about how much they value Kevin Love.

“We want him to be here,” Altman said. “We signed him to an extension for that reason, to be here when we want to make that next step. And so we’re going to hopefully rely on him heavily next year after a significant summer.”

The Cavaliers value Kevin Love now, but don’t be fooled here

After signing Love to a four-year, $120 million contract extension in 2019, it wasn’t long until the franchise veered completely into rebuild territory. While the Cavs have some promising youngsters between Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Issac Okoro and Allen, Love has been wasting away on losing Cleveland teams for far too long thanks to his gaudy contract.

With two years and $59.8 million remaining on his deal, Love still isn’t an easy player to move. But rest assured, as much as Love and the Cavaliers say all the right things publicly, both would be eager to move on from their current situation as soon as an opportunity presents itself.

That may never happen, given his inability to stay healthy over the last few seasons on top of his sizable annual salary, but as much as Altman is probably telling the truth about Love’s value, there’s no question a trade still makes the most sense for both parties when it can finally materialize.