Central Notes: Love, George, Sanders, Jackson

The CavaliersKevin Love is shooting a higher rate of threes lately, but he doesn’t take kindly to the label of stretch-four, according to Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Love didn’t have any post-up opportunities in the game, and 10 of his 11 shot attempts were from three-point range. “I heard some people calling me that but I know I’m not a stretch-four,” Love said. “I’m a post player who can shoot. Right now I’m just doing what I’m called to do. For good, bad or indifferent, I’m playing my role and doing what’s asked of me.” With Love entering free agency this offseason, any hint of unhappiness has to cause concern in Cleveland.

There’s more from the Central Division:

  • Many in Indiana are hoping Paul George can return to help the Pacers‘ playoff charge, but Candace Buckner of The Indianapolis Star tweets that coach Frank Vogel isn’t thinking that way. “Honestly, we’re not even thinking about Paul George,” Vogel said of his star, who hasn’t played since breaking his leg during an exhibition game with Team USA last summer. “Our whole approach has been he’s not going to play for us this year,” Vogel added, “even right now we’re just trying to become the best possible team without him.” (Twitter link). At 27-34, the Pacers are tied with the Heat for the final playoff spot entering Saturday’s action.
  • The Bucks plan to stretch Larry Sanders‘ contract over the full allotment of years, reports Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times. That means Milwaukee can pay its departed center $1.9MM a year over the next seven years, affecting the team’s salary cap through the 2021/22 season. Sanders, who was in the middle of a four-year, $44MM deal, was waived Feb. 21.
  • The Pistons have long-term plans for Reggie Jackson, according to Brendan Savage of MLive.com. Jackson came to Detroit in a deadline-day trade from the Thunder in exchange for Kyle Singler and D.J. Augustin. Team president and coach Stan Van Gundy plans to sign the free-agent-to-be to a lengthy contract this summer. “We’re committed to him,” Van Gundy said. “It’s a long-term thing. This isn’t a tryout.”
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