Kevin Love has been cleared for contact work and may return to the Cleveland Cavaliers on their upcoming road trip, team general manager David Griffin said Tuesday.
Love took part in a 3-on-3 workout prior to the Cavs' game with the Detroit Pistons, the 13th game he has missed since undergoing knee surgery four weeks ago. The team is hoping he will be able to go through a practice this week before the team flies to the West Coast.
"Every next step you take in a rehab situation when you come back from surgery allows for the possibility of swelling and setback, it's just how it goes," Griffin said. "If he gets through it, he has no soreness, we'll let him keep taking the next step all the way through and we'll see what that means. I would anticipate that he'll play sometime on the road trip."
Love caused a stir when he posted a picture on social media of his jersey in his locker before the game. The team initially projected him to be out six weeks.
The Cavs have been dealing with injuries for three months. J.R. Smith recently returned from a broken thumb, but Kyle Korver missed his fourth consecutive game with a sore left foot.
Also Tuesday, center Larry Sanders joined the team after signing a partially guaranteed two-year contract on Monday. Sanders played the final 1:58 of Cleveland's 128-96 win over Detroit on Tuesday and missed his only shot attempt while recording two fouls.
Griffin said before the game that the team will send Sanders to its D-League affiliate in Canton, Ohio, to work his way back into shape. He is expected to play with Canton on Saturday and remain with the Charge during the Cavaliers' upcoming road trip.
Sanders, 28, hadn't played in the NBA in more than two years.
"He wanted to go down to the D-League for a while to kind of get his legs and play and try to find a rhythm," Cavs coach Ty Lue said. "He wants to get in better shape and just touch the ball, just play ... when he feels like he's right and we feel like he's ready, we'll make that jump."
Sanders said before the game Tuesday night that being away from basketball helped him mature and gave him time "to focus on myself. I relied on my family. I feel confident coming back to the game.''
Sanders, whose contract was bought out by the Milwaukee Bucks in February 2015 after a suspension for marijuana use and his apparent lack of commitment to professional basketball, said he is ready to help his new team defend its title.
"I'm ecstatic,'' he said. "Playing with these guys, it's a great group of guys, a great organization. I'll give my all out there and hopefully contribute to a winner.''
