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It's not you, it's me.
A lot has happened since that fateful night in Fenway a year ago. LeBron James went North, Kevin Love followed shortly after, Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green went Southwest, and Love's shoulder went "pop."
Looking ahead to the summer, Kevin Love will be a free agent, free to pick any team he wants. Everyone with a blog or column has penned the Celtics in as a potential suitor for his services (with or without Kelly Olynyk around).
Not so fast reports Steve Bulpett.
Bulpett: Why Celtics’ pursuit of Kevin Love is unlikely to heat up | Boston Herald
According to all sources, Danny Ainge still has affection for Love, but it’s not nearly the borderline obsession that was in play last summer
Well, so much for that. If you are looking for a chance to woo Love out of Cleveland and keep him away from the Lakers, you give a guy the full court press and make it known through whatever sources possible that he's your A-number-1 target (even if you have 5 or 6 top targets).
So why is Danny less infatuated with Love than he was last year? In part because so much has changed.
And from all indications, Love is not seen as a foundational player upon whom to build. Further, sources say his knee issues are bound to have an impact on his basketball longevity and effectiveness. "I think he wants to be in a good situation," said one league exec from outside this area. "But I also think he’s concerned about his health, so he wants to get a good long-term contract. I still think he stays in Cleveland."
(Checks clock) It is June 8, and I declare this free agent pursuit dead.
Ok, ok, so that's being overly dramatic. Maybe this is just posturing and/or smoke, but I trust Bulpett and I tend to believe that he's as plugged into the Celtics organization as anyone. If they are sour on Kevin Love as a foundational piece, then it isn't happening. I'd imagine it will be the Cavs and Lakers bidding on him with the inevitable dark horse teams getting in the action (Rockets?).