3 Cavs That Will Step Up in Kevin Love's Absence

It’s been yet another lost season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and one that has been even more frustrating for forward Kevin Love, who has dealt with a calf injury that has limited him to just 24 games this season. 

Love will be out of the lineup again on Monday against the Indiana Pacers.

Cleveland is reeling having lost 10 consecutive games to fall to 21-47 on the season. It’s actually exactly what the Cavs should want at this point -- tank for a top-five draft pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. On the flip side, it is hard to lure free agents anywhere if you are unable to be competitive.

Love has been playing 24.5 minutes per game this season, so there will be multiple players in line to pick up some minutes, and some stats, for the Cavs tonight. Here's who stands to benefit most.

1. Isaac Okoro

Okoro, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has come on as of late and WynnBET has his player prop projection for points set at 12.5 on Monday. The over (-125) for Okoro is favored to the under (+104), as he will likely top 30 minutes for the fifth consecutive game. 

It’s been a rollercoaster of a rookie season for Okoro, but he has been solid in his past eight games averaging 15.3 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field. He has not shot the 3-ball well this season (just 29.6 percent for the year), but the Cavs will likely increase his workload without Love. We’re going to side with Okoro hitting the over (scoring 13 or more points) in what could be another blowout loss for the Cavs.

2. Jarrett Allen

Allen finished the month of April strong, but he has not been great in the Cavs’ five games this month. WynnBET has Allen’s player prop projection for points set at 14.5 with the under (-120) favored to the over (+100) even with Love out. 

Allen has averaged just 8.4 points on 6.4 shots per game this month. It is some curious usage for one of the team’s better players, but it’s hard to trust him to go over 14.5 points when he’s only done it one time in the Cavs’ last six games.

3. Dean Wade

Cleveland has given Wade back-to-back starts at the forward position and he could be in line for major minutes on Monday. Wade has played 26 or more minutes in his last six games and is averaging 9.3 points on 44.2 percent shooting. 

He’s not going to light up the stat sheet, but Wade is a solid shooter that hit six 3-pointers against Miami earlier this month.