The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Kevin Love for the playoffs and he could miss the NBA finals if the team makes it after suffering a shoulder injury and there is a chance he could opt out as a free agent this summer, which would make him a prime target for teams like the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls.
Love was injured while playing in Game 4 against the Celtics and now he could be out for the remainder of the playoffs. Cavaliers GM David Griffin came out and said that it would be "highly unlikely" that Love returns for the playoffs, even if the team makes a deep run to the NBA finals. Love dealt with a shoulder injury against the Celtics after getting tied up with Kelly Olynyk and now he could need surgery if the injury doesn't heal up.
Love is 26 years old and his future has been in question since he came to the Cavs, with the media reporting that he could opt out of his contract this summer. The injury could play into both sides, with Love not wanting to opt out now after dealing with an injury, while others may see it as a chance to start new somewhere else after an up and down season. Either way, the Cavs will not likely be without Love for the duration of the playoffs and that could change everything.
Some have called the Olynyk play dirty, but it looked like more of a mistake with two big players tangled up with each other. LeBron James now will have to do even more to help the Cavaliers win and Love will now have to deal with constant speculation about his future and what his absence means for the Cavs. If the team doesn't make it to the east finals or the NBA finals, the Love injury could be cited by many as the reason why the team didn't make it.
Either way, if Love makes it to the market he will be the top free agent overall in the NBA. The Lakers have long wanted Love along with the Knicks and bother the Bulls and the Celtics also could be in the mix for him. According to Yahoo Sports, the Celtics should not be ruled out as a contender, as Adrian Wojnarowski writes that there is "mutual" interest on both sides for the move.
Last summer the Celtics were mentioned as a team that could go after Love and after making the playoffs, the team could try and lure him. Surely the Olynyk play doesn't help with swaying him to come to Boston, but that was basketball and Love may not hold a grudge like that. The Celtics have money to spend and after going 40-42, Brad Stevens showed that he is a strong coach and that the team has some solid young talent.
Love's numbers were down this season, but that was more about playing with James over what Love was doing on the court. Love averaged 16 points and nine rebounds per game this season and that came after he averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds in his final season with the Timberwolves.
