The Cleveland Cavaliers could be a getting a big lift soon with reports that NBA All Star forward Kevin Love is all set to join the team in practice this coming Saturday.
Love, who went down in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics, seems to be good to go after undergoing surgery for a dislocated right shoulder last May.
Apparently, rehab has gone well and if he shows good in practice, Love could make his preseason debut against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"He's coming along real nice," said Blatt via Northeast Ohio Media Group.
Love had already been cleared earlier in the week to participate in 3-on-3 basketball workouts which should be a positive sign. Prior to that, the three-time All Star was limited to individual work which included absorbing contact only from a pad in the post.
This development should be good news for the Cavaliers who are trying to make another run at the NBA title after falling to the Golden State Warriors in the last NBA Finals.
Love’s absence was sorely felt and the woes of the Cavaliers compounded all the more when Kyrie Irving went down during game one of the NBA Finals.
Irving is also coming off surgery (fractured kneecap) but is not expected to be rushed back into action. Uncle Drew is likely to make his debut by 2016 as the Cavs try to manage their personnel and ensure that they have a healthy lineup heading into the postseason.
The Cavs have brought back almost the entire roster from last season except for Tristan Thompson whose status continues to be hanging.
Thompson and his agent Rich Paul are still trying to work out an acceptable deal with Cavs management after failing to come to terms on a new deal.
Thompson had wanted a $94 million five-year contract initially but the Cavs were only willing to shell out $80 million. The numbers were drawn down to $53 million for three years but the Cavs were not amenable to the counter-offer.
Among the new faces in the lineup include that of NBA vet Mo Williams, Richard Jefferson, Sasa Kaun for the coming season. Gone are Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller from last year.
In all, the Cavs have maintained the core of players that contributed immensely from last year and tweaked the supporting cast.
Just like last season, the Cavs are expected to rely heavily on Lebron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving with help from the likes of Matthew Delladedova, J.R. Smith, Timofey Mozgov, and Anderson Varejao.
Iman Shumpert is another key figure but the 25-year-old guard is currently out for three-and-a-half months due to a wrist injury.