Report: Celtics not as obsessed with Kevin Love as they were last summer

The Boston Celtics, like most teams, would be thrilled to add a talent like Kevin Love to the fold. They're just not as enamored with the star power forward as they were a year ago, according to the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett.

That's less an indication of how the Celtics view Love as it is a sign of how the organization's plans have changed.

According to Bulpett, Danny Ainge's "borderline obsession" with Love last summer was about avoiding a complete rebuild and pairing the three-time All-Star with Rajon Rondo. With Rondo now out of the picture and the Celts now more committed to that rebuild, Ainge is reportedly less consumed with adding Love.

In addition, Bulpett reports that Love isn't seen as a foundational building block, adding that "sources say his knee issues are bound to have an impact on his basketball longevity and effectiveness."

“I think he wants to be in a good situation,” said one league exec from outside this area. “But I also think he’s concerned about his health, so he wants to get a good long-term contract. I still think he stays in Cleveland.”

Love, who has been sidelined since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at the hands of Celtics youngster Kelly Olynyk at the conclusion of the first round, has only a $16.7-million player option for next season remaining on his contract.

If there are legitimate concerns about Love's long-term health, not wanting to commit the max money and maximum terms he'll command on the open market is understandable. But the ability to acquire a still-in-his-prime star without having to surrender assets, particularly with the salary cap set to spike in the near future, is a rare opportunity, and one that would be tough for any team to pass up on in the event Love decides to flee Cleveland.

While the young Celtics were able to secure an unlikely postseason berth in the weak Eastern Conference, they're youth movement has yet to produce a surefire star, and the whole point of their asset hoarding has been to land such a player, which Love unquestionably is.

After six productive individual seasons in Minnesota without a playoff appearance to show for it, Love moved to Cleveland last July in a blockbuster trade that sent No. 1 overall pick - and eventual Rookie of the Year - Andrew Wiggins to the Timberwolves.

While his contributions to the Cavs' playoff run didn't last long, the three-time All-Star was a key component of the team's first trip to the postseason in five years, averaging 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on a True Shooting Percentage of 56.2 during the regular season.

Those numbers pale in comparison to Love's prodigious production as the clear-cut No. 1 option in Minnesota, but given his third-option status behind James and All-NBA point guard Kyrie Irving – in addition to Love being somewhat misused within the offense – they're impressive nonetheless.