Report: Boston might have been 2nd free-agency choice for Cavs' Love
There was never any chance Kevin Love wouldn't re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer, whether it be a long- or short-term deal. The money, winning atmosphere and thrill of playing beside LeBron James for the foreseeable future were always humongous selling points no rational person could ever pass up.
But that doesn't mean Love didn't have a backup plan. Here's what one source told the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett about how closely the star forward looked at the Celtics earlier this summer:
“'If there was some reason Cleveland didn’t want him, which sounds pretty silly ... but if they wanted to go in a different direction, I think Boston was going to be his second choice,' the source said. In contradiction to some of the talk when Love took in a Red Sox game last summer at Fenway Park, the trip was not to investigate the city as a potential home. 'He was just in to have some fun. But he really enjoyed himself.' The key question is why Love would consider the Celtics when the club is still not seen as good enough to attract a major star and needs more than one to become a contender. The reply was that, again, if the Cavaliers didn’t return his affection, Love wasn’t afraid to be the first one in, believing the Celts’ ability to recruit another impact player would be improved."
This isn't breaking news, but it still has Celtics fans thinking of what could be. Love is the star that franchise badly needs to get over the hump and really start building a title contender. There's still always the possibility he grows unhappy in Cleveland, and if that happens Boston will pounce with a Godfather trade offer.
But that's not very likely. It looks like the Celtics finally have to set their sights on acquiring a different star to become the face of their franchise.
(h/t: Boston Herald)
Photo Credit: Jason Miller/Getty Images
