Kevin Love expects to be with Cleveland Cavaliers next season

CLEVELAND, June 1 (UPI) -- Even though Kevin Love has to sit and watch his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates fight for an NBA title, it doesn't seem to be bothering him that his team has succeeded without him.

Love even said that he plans to be back in Cleveland next season.

"I haven't thought about it, but as I mentioned, I expect to be suiting up by Game 1 of next, year," Love told reporters Sunday.

Love later responded to the question if he meant playing again with the Cavaliers. He responded with a brief "yes sir."

Love was injured when he separated his shoulder in a tie-up with the Boston Celtics' Kelly Olynyk.

Love has primarily served as a cheerleader on the bench following his Game 4 exit from the Celtics series.

"I'm super happy for these guys, proud of these guys," Love told Cleveland.com. "There were times where I felt down because of my shoulder and they've been here to pick me up and it's kind of how it's been the whole year."

Love, who averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds last season in Minnesota, averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds for the Cavaliers this season.

"About a week went by, I reached out to Kelly, sent him a text, said, 'Hey, it's all good,'" Love told the Boston Globe. "You know, it was a tough play, and we just move on from there."