Blatt: Kevin Love Isn't A Max Player

[rondohondo]

Saw this posted on realgm

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1366148

Reporter: "Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love they are two max players, they're here." Blatt responds quickly: "Kevin's not a max player yet."

Getting real out there in Cleveland. Spent 6 years around K-Love and I can't imagine that Blatt quote is gonna sit very well with him.

So go after Rondo and Love in the off-season? 

[Roy H.]

That quote is taken out of context, meant to stir up controversy.

Blatt seemed to be saying that Love's deal wasn't a max deal currently, in that it was for 4, and not 5, years.  That's part of why Love was holding a grudge against Minnesota, because Kahn wouldn't give him that 5th year.

[Celtics4ever]

That being said, do folks really think he is a max player?

[Roy H.]

That being said, do folks really think he is a max player?

He is in this market, but I had never recognized how flawed he is until watching him in Cleveland this year.  His defense is really, really bad.

[Fafnir]

That being said, do folks really think he is a max player?

He is in this market, but I had never recognized how flawed he is until watching him in Cleveland this year.  His defense is really, really bad.

It wasn't this bad in Minnesota till he completely checked out last season and was gunning for his numbers. Prior years he was better, not sure if its just effort or more of a system/fit issue right now both seem to be playing a big factor.

He's still definitely a max player, but perhaps not if your team isn't going to committ to getting him the ball or using him offensively as a centerpiece.

With his skillset he should be having a Dirk like impact on defenses even when he's not getting the ball on a possession, but he's not. Not sure if that's just a scheme, an LBJ issue, or what in Cleveland. For Minnesota he was as high impact as any PF in the league and that was just last year.

[Rondo9]

Yeah I think it's been taken out of context, that being said I'm so happy that the Celtics have Sullinger on a team friendly deal. 

[mgent]

That being said, do folks really think he is a max player?

I'd say so.  I mean you know Gordon Hayward is a max player right?

On the other hand, I've definitely never thought of him as the top 5 player that many on here think/have thought.

[D.o.s.]

That quote is taken out of context, meant to stir up controversy.

Blatt seemed to be saying that Love's deal wasn't a max deal currently, in that it was for 4, and not 5, years.  That's part of why Love was holding a grudge against Minnesota, because Kahn wouldn't give him that 5th year.

Exactly.

[mgent]

That being said, do folks really think he is a max player?

He is in this market, but I had never recognized how flawed he is until watching him in Cleveland this year.  His defense is really, really bad.

It wasn't this bad in Minnesota till he completely checked out last season and was gunning for his numbers. Prior years he was better, not sure if its just effort or more of a system/fit issue right now both seem to be playing a big factor.

He's still definitely a max player, but perhaps not if your team isn't going to committ to getting him the ball or using him offensively as a centerpiece.

With his skillset he should be having a Dirk like impact on defenses even when he's not getting the ball on a possession, but he's not. Not sure if that's just a scheme, an LBJ issue, or what in Cleveland. For Minnesota he was as high impact as any PF in the league and that was just last year.

I agree with this.

I personally have always thought of him as a player whose production was in large part due to him being on a losing teams.   And let's be honest, except for that one year in MIN, all his "high impact" has come while playing on the worst team in the league.  I don't think he'll ever be anywhere close to a Dirk-like impact.  In fact I consider him overall less effective than Chris Bosh as a non-centerpiece complimentary player.

[D.o.s.]

I mean, I've maintained that Kevin Love was a 'good player on a bad team' for years.

[SHAQATTACK]

Love can't save a worn out James Legacy.

Problem is not Love .

James needs to quit dodging contact

He is going to,have to,play MORE around the rim , after all he is 6 8 or better ,  he is big and strong and needs to help rebounding and working inside too.

James .....thinks he can stand out at the three and win a ring ..?   It ain't happening

James is not Dirk

It's all on James .....Mr ATHlETIC .....he needs to quit crying and do,what he does best ......sling his body into the paint and draw fouls...fast break .....run the court and dunk the ball.....steals , fast break,  use his superior speed and jumping ability.  He is standing around watching Irving play.

There are at least five to 8 players I'd rather have than James at this point.

[apc]

Love can't save a worn out James Legacy.

Problem is not Love .

James needs to quit dodging contact

He is going to,have to,play MORE around the rim , after all he is 6 8 or better ,  he is big and strong and needs to help rebounding and working inside too.

James .....thinks he can stand out at the three and win a ring ..?   It ain't happening

James is not Dirk

It's all on James .....Mr ATHlETIC .....he needs to quit crying and do,what he does best ......sling his body into the paint and draw fouls...fast break .....run the court and dunk the ball.....steals , fast break,  use his superior speed and jumping ability.  He is standing around watching Irving play.

There are at least five to 8 players I'd rather have than James at this point.

In addition to that Lebron need to stop getting involved in Coaches and GM business.

[PickNRoll]

Hayward's contract isn't technically a max, I think.  A max player gets 25% of the cap which is currently 17/68M.  Players who have been in the league 7 years get 30%.  Gordon is flat 4 year / 63M.  Close to max.

Blatt was commenting on this technicality.  Love is not and has never been maxed.

[Roy H.]

There are at least five to 8 players I'd rather have than James at this point.

I'd be curious to hear your list.  Lebron is second in the NBA in scoring and sixth in assists.  He's hasn't looked quite as dominant as usual, but he's still the best player in the NBA, in my mind.

[saltlover]

Hayward's contract isn't technically a max, I think.  A max player gets 25% of the cap which is currently 17/68M.  Players who have been in the league 7 years get 30%.  Gordon is flat 4 year / 63M.  Close to max.

Blatt was commenting on this technicality.  Love is not and has never been maxed.

Hayward's contract is a max.  They use a different salary cap (one that's a bit lower) to calculate the percentages off of which a max contract is based.  He's 25% of that number.