How Kevin Love's exit from Cavaliers hit Evan Mobley: 'All the guys are going to miss him'

Evan Mobley is convinced every member of the Cavaliers will miss Kevin Love.

A respected veteran and five-time NBA All-Star, Love and the Cavs reached an agreement on a buyout of his contract Saturday, meaning the player who had been the last remaining member of the franchise's 2016 championship team is moving on, the organization announced.

A second-year Cavs forward, Mobley reacted to the news Saturday during an interview with the Beacon Journal as part of a promotional event in which Panini America hosted NBA players at the Panini Prizm Lounge during All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. Panini is the exclusive trading card partner of the NBA.

“It definitely hits you emotionally,” Mobley said of Love's departure. “... All the guys are going to miss him for sure, and I just hope he does great wherever he goes.”

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The Miami Heat are considered the favorites to sign Love, though he plans to talk to the Philadelphia 76ers, too, ESPN reported. Both are Eastern Conference playoff contenders like the Cavs.

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“He's been great, a great leader,” Mobley said. “He's always been a character in the locker room as well. All the guys on the team love him.

“His lightheartedness in the locker room definitely helps everybody and glues everybody together.”

Love, 34, dropped from the Cavs' rotation in recent weeks and last appeared in a game Jan. 24. Hindered by a fractured thumb suffered in the fall, he has averaged 8.5 points on 38.9% shooting, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists this season.

The intangibles he brought to a young Cavs roster lacking substantial playoff exposure shouldn't be discounted.

“Being in a championship environment for years is a big deal, and I feel like that holds weight for us,” Mobley said. “He definitely helped us ... take things serious as we get to the end of the season and end of last season.

“He did a great job expressing that and showing that and teaching us that.”

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Mobley reflected on Love's influence a day after competing in the Jordan Rising Stars. The showcase and working with Panini were among his fun All-Star festivities.

Mobley explained he didn't have many trading cards as a kid, but he added, “They just got me a few packs today actually, so I might start collecting.”

A Love card would be a nice keepsake right about now.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kevin Love will be missed by Cavs players, Evan Mobley says