NBA: Each Team’s Most Important Player Heading Into 2015-16

Apr 15, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) shoots in the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

2014-15 Stats: 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds

It would be easy just to say that LeBron James is the Cavs most important player, but it’s never that simple with any LeBron James-led team.

Sure, LeBron will be the reason why the Cavs even make the playoffs – and a deep run – this season, but if they’re going to win their first NBA Championship in the history of their franchise, it’s going to be because of Kevin Love.

We saw what this team looked like without Love – still good, but they couldn’t complete the mission. And with an even more loaded Eastern and Western Conference, the task isn’t going to be simpler this season. They’re going to need Love – and if he can embrace the third man role, as Chris Bosh did in Miami, this Cavaliers team is going to be very scary.

Next: Dallas Mavericks