Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has opted out of the final year of his contract, ESPN reports.
Love reportedly notified the Cavaliers earlier today that he would opt-out -forgoing the $16.7 million he could have earned - and enter unrestricted free agency.
This does not mean that Love's tenure with the Cavs is over though. Cleveland fully expected Love to make this decision and is planning to re-sign him in free agency. Although Love's first season in Cleveland was bumpy and he ended the year with a dislocated shoulder suffered in the first round of the playoffs, the Cavs view him as a critical piece of their team moving forward.
But Cleveland will have to beat out a handful of other teams vying for Love's services. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are expected to be committed suitors in free agency. The Portland Trail Blazers are also rumored to be interested in the former Oregon high school star if LaMarcus Aldridge departs in free agency.
After his injury, Love was asked if he wished to return to Cleveland next season. "Yes," he responded earlier this month. "I want to win."
Love averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this past season after averaged 26.1 and 12.5 in his last season in Minnesota. The Cavs traded 2014 No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins and its 2016 first-rounder to pry Love from the Timberwolves last summer.
