New York is a nice place to visit. But the Cavaliers’ Kevin Love doesn’t see himself living there. At least as a Knick. In fact, Love doesn’t see himself leaving Cleveland any time soon.
“No, I don’t,” Love said when asked by reporters Friday at the Cavs practice facility in Independence, Ohio, if he expects to be traded. “I expect to be here for a long time.”
Love admitted he has been more concerned with getting his back in order than packing a suitcase. Love, a four-time All-Star, has missed two games with spasms but expects to face the Knicks at the Garden Saturday, when LeBron James and friends invade. Love was relieved tests found no structural damage in his back.
In case you have been real absorbed with the Falcons’ and Patriots’ punt return coverage, there have been numerous reports of the Knicks trying to induce the Cavs into a Carmelo Anthony-for-Love trade. There have been an equal number of reports claiming the Cavs will not surrender Love. Still, rumors persist.
“It’s good to be wanted,” Love joked about hearing trade rumors for almost forever.
“I predicted that. I said it doesn’t matter if I have an All-Star year, one side or the other, it’s always going to be there,” Love said about the rumors that he deadpanned has him “occasionally” checking his phone.
He’ll no doubt check right to the trading deadline, which brings one of the season’s subtle ironies: The deadline is Feb. 23 – when the Knicks visit Cleveland. But Love has learned to live with rumors.
“Comes with the territory,” said Love, averaging 19.9 points and 11.0 rebounds. “When that stuff comes along, I’ve done a lot better job of letting things just kind of roll off of me. I think it’d helped me out on the court as well.”
So while the big apple of Phil Jackson’s eye does not expect a trade, Love also wasn’t sure what to expect from the Garden crowd Saturday.
“I don’t really know. For me I’m focused on – us not only winning of course, always – but just getting back out there, having missed a week,” said Love, who noted he did not need an injection for the spasms. “Going back out there and testing, seeing how I feel, getting my legs underneath me again. … I guess I haven’t really given it much thought.”
Trust us, they’ll love him at the Garden. Until he does something like score or get a rebound against the Knicks. Then his genealogy will be questioned. LeBron James doesn’t think a Love-Anthony matchup will add that much more to what already is an exciting atmosphere.
“It’s always energetic. It’s always a great place to play basketball, so I don’t think you can add more spice to the situation,” James said.
The Cavs have intrigued lately. After a 23-6 start, the champs have been a most mortal 10-9. James has criticized the roster makeup, calling for another “[bleeping] playmaker.” J.R. Smith remains sidelined with a fractured thumb. But in two meetings with the Knicks this season, they’ve squeezed out victories by 29 points in Cleveland and 32 at the Garden, where they’ve won six straight.
But all the outside noise remains secondary to a healthy back for Love.
“I feel good. See how the body responds. All went well. Feel good tomorrow and I’m good to go,” Love said.
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