Did Kelly Olynyk Injuring Kevin Love Cost the Celtics a Star in Free Agency?

Kevin Love suffered an apparent dislocated shoulder against the Celtics in Game 4 Sunday, and as of right now, he’ll miss the next 2-4 weeks, which could mean he won’t suit up again until the NBA Finals, assuming the Cavs make it that far.

Perhaps the bigger story is how the injury could impact Boston. If you watch the play, it does appear as if Olynyk yanked on Love’s arm. Love called it “bush league.” It was a rough, physical series with a lot of yapping, and the Celtics vowed they were going to get physical and try to steal Game 4 and avoid a sweep.

Here’s why Celtics fans should be unhappy: Boston had planned on courting Kevin Love in free agency this summer, something that Love appeared open to. Does the injury mean Boston has to trade Olynyk (certainly do-able) before it begins to make a push for Love?

"Teams know that Love would want to do something he never had the chance to do pre-trade with the Cavaliers: Sit down, meet with the coach, management and hear how it’ll fit for him. That’s when those who know Love and Stevens well believed that such a setting would’ve strengthened the Celtics’ candidacy, would’ve made them the franchise to beat in free agency."

If the MRI returns that Love’s season is over, it’s safe to assume this injury caused irreparable damage to any potential relationship with the Celtics, and Love could cross Boston off the list. And perhaps the injury unites Love with his Cleveland teammates (finally?), as they had his back (see Perkins, see JR Smith).

Brad Stevens proved by getting this makeshift team to the postseason – trading his best two players and the team getting better – he’s one of the best coaches in the NBA, but did Kelly Olynyk just cost Stevens his best shot at a superstar?