Kevin Love has denied that he is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers repeatedly but still reports continue to pop up and the rumors refuse to die. The latest is from one of the biggest news breakers in the NBA. We all know, love and trust Adrian Wojnarwoski of Yahoo Sports and here’s his thoughts on the matter.
Wojnarowski, speaking on the Dan Patrick Show.
“I think all year long he has looked longingly at free agency and the possibility of what else is out there. What the Cavaliers had really hoped for is that if he had played in the postseason, and had success, and had some big moments, and all of a sudden people start to look at Kevin Love differently — “he had a great Game 6 against the Bulls and got us to the conference finals” — and people started to see him as a winning player and a big moment guy, he hasn’t had those opportunities in the past, maybe he’d feel differently about that role he had there. But none of that is going to happen now, he’s out, and he won’t experience any of that. And the only big decision he’s going to be making is based on a regular season where he hasn’t embraced loved that role like Chris Bosh….
“He’s going to look at free agency, I think he’s going to look at other teams. He can always opt in and go into free agency next summer where there’s even a bigger pool of money. But there’s a legitimate fear within the Cavs that he will just walk.”
Love will make $16.4 million if he opts-in next year, then has a chance to make a ton more money when he becomes a free agent and the new TV money kicks in the following year. Obviously it would be wise for him to wait it out one more year. It’s not like he’s with a bad team, he’s with a legitimate title contender. Unless he’s truly miserable there, I don’t see the point in leaving.
