Kevin Love was a linchpin in the Cleveland Cavaliers' four consecutive Finals runs, which included the franchise's lone championship victory during the 2015-16 season.
And if the 31-year-old has his way, he'll be aboard for the club's rebuild and journey back toward the top.
"I do want to be here. I always have," Love told Cleveland.com's David Petkiewicz. "I say that knowing it’s the NBA and it’s a business. I think especially after seeing last year, the summer leading up to last year (when LeBron James left in free agency) and this summer, the changeover is like unprecedented so you don’t know what is going to happen.
"If they decide to go completely young … and that could be the case, but it’s funny, my agent didn’t call me one time this summer to say, 'Hey, you’re getting traded, there's talks that this is happening.' Of course, somehow it’s still out there and people are talking about, 'Oh, Kevin would be great here or great there.' I just keep it moving and try to do right by these guys because we have a good group."
Love was initially acquired by Cleveland ahead of the 2014-15 campaign in a three-team blockbuster involving No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins. He said he's found comfort in the city and its fan base across his five seasons with the team.
The UCLA product has also developed a relationship with second-year guard Collin Sexton and spoke highly of new head coach John Beilein. And for as long as Love is wearing a Cavaliers jersey, he's invested in the team's long-term success.
"If they do decide (to move on) then at least I would have laid a really, really great foundation and done right by the whole team," he said. "Hopefully people will see that, know that no matter what goes down, how it goes down, I will always do right by the city of Cleveland. They’ve done right by me and stuck with me."
Love averaged 17 points and 10.9 boards during an injury-shortened 2018-19 campaign. He's now entering the first season of a four-year, $120-million contract extension signed in July 2018.
