LeBron James ‘frustrated’ with Kevin Love’s ‘Inability’ to get with the program
Despite having been in Cleveland for barely five minutes, Kevin Love is once more being linked with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The tensions seem to be rising in Cleveland with four-time NBA MVP LeBron James failing to see eye-to-eye with three-time All-Star Kevin Love. LeBron lobbied for the Cavs to acquire Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for number one overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, but now may be regretting the move with the regular season quickly coming to an end.
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, LeBron has becoming increasingly frustrated with his new teammate and that may lead to Love leaving in free agency this summer:
But several sources close to the situation in Cleveland claim that James has tried to make it work but that he’s frustrated by Love’s inability, and in some ways unwillingness, to get with the program. Remember, James pushed the Cavs to trade Wiggins to the Timberwolves to acquire Love, who could be one-and-done in Cleveland.
As of right now, the Cavaliers are the favorites to come out on top in the 2015 NBA Finals, according to Sportsbook.ag:
Cleveland Cavaliers 19/10
Golden State Warriors 3/1
San Antonio Spurs 8/1
Memphis Grizzlies 12/1
Atlanta Hawks 13/1
With the Cavaliers turning things around in the second half of the season and emerging as favorites to win it all, it is a bit surprising Love wouldn’t come around. Love was been stuck in dead-end situation with the Timberwolves for his entire career before getting dealt to Cleveland.
Needless to say, Love’s current situation is drastically improved from his time in Minnesota, but it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see him on the move this summer. Love has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers for years and now the storied franchise may finally have their chance to bring him in on a long-term deal.
Love will have a player option worth $16.7 million on the table during the offseason in which he can simply accept and take his chances with one more season playing alongside LeBron. The star forward has said that he intends to opt in this summer, but that could easily change if things continue to get worse moving forward.
The Lakers and New York Knicks will be ready and waiting if Love elects to test free agency this summer. Los Angeles may have the edge with Love playing his college days with UCLA, but it could easily go either way if Phil Jackson comes calling.
