NBA Rumors: Kevin Love to opt out, test free agency
Kevin Love was supposed to be a major piece of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals puzzle — but he ended up a broken shell of himself who didn't do a thing to boost the Cavaliers in the postseason. Cleveland fizzled in the NBA Finals without Love or Kyrie Irving and they may only have one of those two players moving forward in 2015-16.
The decision needs to be made about Love's future and Cleveland and what exactly that entails — and who it involves.
According to Brian Windhorst from ESPN.com, the Cavaliers are expecting to hear Kevin Love tell them he's declining his player option for the 2015-16 season.
James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova could all be free agents by July 1.
James, Love and Smith have player options for next season and all are expected to decline them.
If this is true, then it is concurrent to what Love has stated whenever he has been asked about his contract. The last time anyone checked, Love said that he'd be suiting up as a Cavaliers starter on opening night next season. If he opts out, then it's a definitive answer to the question of whether or not he plans on testing free agency or riding out another year with Cleveland.
Cavaliers fans will remain adamant that the team will re-sign Love, but let's not forget that there is legitimate fear he'll leave. That was a month ago, but let's also not forget how Kevin Love teased Timberwolves fans by not totally committing to opting out when he was in Minnesota.
The Cavaliers can offer Love the most money in a max deal, but the question is would they want to do that? LeBron James is going to have to sign off on that, and if he hesitates then Love might just choose to opt out and take the hesitation as the final middle finger that broke the camel's back.
Love would be wise to come back for another season and see if things work out better in year two — but cashing in on that max contract right now might be too tempting for him to pass up.
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