Newly acquired Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love reportedly declined to sign a contract extension with the team, and free agent Ray Allen supposedly is waiting for training camp to conclude before he signs. Cleveland, meanwhile, is said to be eying free agent Emeka Okafor as an option to help bolster their defense.
As expected, Love hasn't yet agreed to a contract extension with Cleveland. Love has financial incentive not to sign an extension and instead opt out of his contract and become a free agent in July, when he could then sign a max-level deal with the Cavaliers. Love is fully expected to stay with Cleveland beyond this season, but the length of his contract could be contingent on superstar LeBron James, who's currently on a one-year contract with a player option for next season.
Allen, a close friend and a former teammate of James, could be the next notable name to sign with Cleveland. The veteran reportedly is leaning toward signing with the Cavaliers but is waiting until after training camp to make it official.
"...Ray Allen does not seem overly interested in coming to training camp," Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com wrote Monday. "For several weeks it's been reported that when Allen ultimately decides to play, it would be with the Cleveland Cavaliers."
Previous reports indicated Allen was still considering retirement, but if he did return for his 19th season, wanted to be paid more than the veteran's minimum.
In an effort to improve on defense and bolster their depth in the frontcourt, Cleveland is pursuing Okafor.
"The list of pursuers for the defensive-minded center, according to NBA front office sources, includes LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers as well as LeBron's old friends in Miami," ESPN's Marc Stein wrote on Sunday. "But I'm likewise told that Okafor is unlikely to sign anywhere until midseason as he continues to recover from his herniated disk."
The 31-year-old veteran, who last played for the Washington Wizards, missed all of last season with a neck injury and is continuing to recover from it.
