Taylor had suggested that Love could be a liability defensively and will be fall guy in Cleveland…
Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love has responded to comments from Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor regarding his defensive weaknesses.
Speaking shortly after Love was introduced to the media as a Cleveland player, Taylor revealed his fears for his former star now that he has joined a star-studded line-up including the likes of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
Taylor claimed that Love’s liability defensively has been covered well in Minnesota previously, but it remains to be seen whether or not the situation stays the same in Cleveland.
In addition, if the project doesn’t work for the Cavaliers, the Timberwolves owner believes that Love will face the brunt of the criticism and his history with injuries could also prove to be a problem moving forward.
The 25-year-old has refused to hit back and has merely tried to diffuse the situation by suggesting that “emotions are running high” so soon after the trade deal was made, and he believes that Taylor should focus on the team he has constructed with Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett joining the roster.
“I think emotions are definitely running high right now,” Love told “Mike & Mike”, ESPN reports.
“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.”
Love insisted that he maintained a good relationship with Taylor during his time in Minnesota, but he believes that he is now ready to take the next step in his career with the Cavs after joining forces with James and Irving.
Cleveland have been installed as the favourites to win an NBA championship next season, although defending champions the San Antonio Spurs and Eastern Conference rivals the Chicago Bulls will undoubtedly have a role to play in denying them immediate glory.
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