LAS VEGAS — Editor's Note: The above video is the latest in our "Locked on Cavaliers" podcast series
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star foward Kevin Love will not be a part of Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
In a story first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the 32-year-old Love decided to take himself off of the team, citing the right calf injury that limited him to only 25 games for the Cavs last season.
Love's agent Jeff Schwartz confirmed the news to Wojnarowski and shared this statement from Love: "I am incredibly disappointed to not be heading to Tokyo with Team USA, but you need to be at absolute peak performance to compete at the Olympic level and I am just not there yet."
During brief minutes in Team USA's exhibition games, Love averaged 0.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.5 steals.
Despite his credentials as a five-time All-Star, former NBA champion, and Olympic gold medalist, Love seemed to understand as Team USA's training camp began that his career is starting to evolve into that of a role player.
"I think I understand going into my 14th season that probably being that No. 1 guy, playing 35 minutes, getting 20 touches a game, is probably in my rearview," Love said. "But in how I can affect a team at my level now and feeling how I'm feeling now, I know that I can do it at a very high level. So I don't try to put a ceiling or limit on myself at all. So long as I'm feeling good, I know I'm going to play good."
As 3News' Ben Axelrod pointed out recently, feeling good has been easier said than done for Love, who has appeared in just 102 of the Cavs' 219 games over the past three seasons.
Love's availability -- or lack thereof -- coupled with his own frustration over the Cavs' ongoing rebuild has seemingly led to a natural breaking point for his time in Cleveland. The two years and $60 million remaining on Love's contract, however, has made him difficult to trade and has led to speculation that a contract buyout might be best for both parties.
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