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Kevin Love withdrew from Team USA, but he is not looking to retire, per report

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Kevin Love withdrew from Team USA after realizing he is not at 100 percent to help the team win in the Tokyo Olympics. According to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, the reason he withdrew is the same calf injury that cost him most of last season.

“According to a source, this is not a new injury. Love is still feeling the effects of a lingering right calf strain that limited him to just 25 games during the 2020-21 season, where he averaged 12.2 points per game, lowest since his rookie season, to go with 7.4 rebounds,” Fedor reports.

The Cavaliers are hoping to find a trade partner for the veteran power forward, however Love’s withdrawal from the USA squad does not mean that he will not continue to play basketball.

“At this point, sources say, retirement has not been discussed or considered. Love is still enthusiastic about the upcoming season. He still loves the game. But as he enters season 14, even Love admits it’s time to reset expectations.”

“I think I understand that probably being that number one guy, playing 35 minutes and getting 20 touches a game, is probably in my rear view,” Love said recently. “I don’t try to put a ceiling or limit on myself at all. So, long as I’m feeling good, I know that I’m going to play good.

I’m going to chase the game like I always have. But I do believe that if it’s asked for me to have to pivot in my career for a team to win, I’m more than I’m willing to do that.”

Love is owed $60.2 million over the next two years. That contract, alongside his injury history, makes it very difficult to trade the veteran forward.

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