Mamba in the Morning: Kevin Love officially a Cavalier
By Jacob Rude
Morning Lakers Nation!
Fortunately for our sanity, the Kevin Love saga is over. Unfortunately for our chances of getting him next summer, he’s officially a Cavalier, introduced yesterday in an official press conference.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s all roses with he and the Timberwolves. In fact, a bit of war of words has erupted, first with ‘Wolves owner Glen Taylor questioning Love’s move to be the “third player on the team.” Love responded on Mike & Mike Wednesday morning.
"“I think emotions are definitely running high right now,” Love told “Mike & Mike.” “For Glen to say that, I just think that he should be focusing on the players that he just received. I mean, he has two of the No. 1 picks in the last two drafts: Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett. He has another guy who can really play in Thaddeus Young.“I think he got a lot for me. So I’d be focusing even more on that. More than anything, I’m just excited to start my time in Cleveland, get to work with my new teammates, and start with this new family here.”"
A certain amount of bitterness is always portrayed when an owner comments negatively about a player after they’ve been dealt. Still, this marks another NBA superstar the Lakers will miss out on.
In other NBA news, it looks like the league is taking more precautions following the Paul George injury, expanding the area behind the basket as well as reducing the number of photographers.
"The new regulations, calling for an extra foot of open space on both sides of the basket stanchion, were sent to teams Tuesday by league president of operations Rod Thorn and executive vice president of team marketing and business operations Amy Brooks in a memo that was obtained by The Associated Press.Thorn says clearing the congestion behind the playing area was planned even before Indiana’s Paul George broke his right leg when he crashed into the stanchion last month during a USA Basketball exhibition game.“The conversations about this topic preceded Paul’s injury by several years,” Thorn said. “As a matter of fact, at our league meetings in July we informed our teams this was the direction we were going. But of course when an injury occurs like the one to Paul, it reaffirms the changes we have made and the need to continue to evaluate our policies.”"
Regardless of whether or not this was prompted by George’s injury, this has been a long time coming and long overdue. It’s a shame that it took George’s injury to push this matter along.
Let us know down below whether you’re happy that Love is a Cavalier!