David Blatt Declares Kevin Love Is Not A Max Player Yet

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt will be skating on thinner ice after declaring to reporters post-game during Monday's lopsided loss to the Sacramento Kings that starting power forward Kevin Love is "not a max player yet." Blatt's response appears to be latest in a series of controversies that is surrounding the team which is mired in a five game losing straight and is a disappointing 1-8 without four-time Most Valuable Player LeBron James.

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

— Blake Ellington (@BlakeEllington) January 12, 2015

It is unclear if Blatt was referring to Love not signing the full five years maximum term of a contract but as it stands, the former Minnesota Timberwolves player is earning the maximum salary. The comments from Blatt can be damaging to an already tenuous situation considering that Love can opt out at the end of the year and pursue free agency. That would leave the cavaliers with nothing to show for after dealing back to back number 1 picks in Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins.

The fifth pick in the 2008 draft has been saying the right things in his short stay with the team and is looking into a one year extension in anticipation of the 2016 free agency. The new television deal will kick in by 2016 and will presumably pull up the salary cap. However, some observers are quick to point out that these are the type of comments that can potentially dissuade former UCLA product to stay long term in Ohio.

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.

— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) January 12, 2015

The team is in the middle of a mid-season re-constructing of the roster after dealing away reserve guard Dion Waiters for a pair of backcourt help in J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. The team already filled the hole left behind by injured center Anderson Varejao by picking up centre Timofey Mozgov from the Denver Nuggets for a pair of potentially late first round picks from the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team will take time to jell and its strength can only be measured once James comes back (he is projected to come back Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns).

Nevertheless, the blunt comments of Blatt can come back to bite the organization in the behind if ever Love gets turned off with the way the mentorship utilizes him. Love, who is used to being the go-to guy in his former squad, is relegated to a spot-up shooter for most of the time and given lesser looks and opportunities during crunch time. For now, the stretch four can use the new comments of his coach as fuel to raise up his game further in light of the team's struggles.