Cavs' Blatt clarifies 'max player' remark about Love

Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt has quickly discovered how everything said around a LeBron James basketball team can be put under a microscope.

On Monday, Blatt sought to clarify a comment he made Sunday night regarding power forward Kevin Love. When a reporter asked the coach about the Cavs' poor showing of late despite having two maximum-contract players, Blatt replied "Kev's not a max player yet, is he?"

Blatt was likely referring to the length of the contract extension Love signed (and can opt out of after this season) with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012, which is four years and not the maximum five.

Regardless, Love is making maximum money and is considered a max player. Blatt said Monday that he was trying not to break NBA rules about tampering, and he adamantly denied any backhanded critique of Love's game. 

"I was simply saying that with our team, he does not have a max contract because we're not allowed to talk to him about anything until after this season is over ... I think that's very unfortunate the way that that turned out," Blatt said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "That's the way of the world sometimes. I guess I got to be clearer in my thoughts."

Blatt said he discussed the matter with Love, and the player added that the remarks didn't bother him.

Blatt has been thrown into a media circus with the Cavs in his first year as an NBA head coach. He previously coached in Israel, as well as stops throughout Europe. Some have pointed out that the NBA's learning curve - exacerbated by the James-inspired spotlight - and different coach/player dynamics than exist in college and internationally have proven difficult for him.