Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt said Kevin Love isn't yet a max contract player. If Cleveland is unwilling to pay Love in the offseason, will the All-Star power forward test free agency?
Love can opt out of his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent, which he's expected to do because of the financial incentive. If Love wants a max-level contract, though, he might not get it in Cleveland.
"Kevin's not a max player yet," Blatt told reporters Sunday, according to Blake Ellington of Sactown Royalty.
Putting Blatt's remark in context doesn't make it sound any better, either.
Per Ellington:
Reporter: "Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love they are two max players, they're here." Blatt responds quickly: "Kevin's not a max player yet."
— Blake Ellington (@BlakeEllington) January 12, 2015
Love went from a No. 1 option to a No. 3 option, behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Naturally his scoring is down and his defense, albeit marginally improved, remains suspect. Blatt's remark could be taken as an attempt to motivate Love, but judging from Love's numbers this season, Blatt could genuinely believe Love is unworthy of a maximum contract in July.
Assuming Love is set on signing a max deal, and assuming Cleveland doesn't give him one, then Love could be in play as a free agent this season. Love has said all the right things this season: how he is willing to play whatever role the team needs, how he wants to stay in Cleveland for the long haul and so forth. Still, that hasn't stopped reports from surfacing that he would consider leaving the Cavaliers in the offseason.
"It's not going to get as much discussion during the season, but one of the biggest issues for the Cavs is that both LeBron James and Kevin Love own opt outs after this season," Sam Smith of Bulls.com wrote on Nov. 10. "LeBron James basically cannot afford to go anywhere after his return to Cleveland. But watch out for Love. Indications are he will seriously consider the opt out and has his eyes on a return to Los Angeles, where he attended college and where the Lakers long have had him on their free agent wish list."
Love is averaging 17.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in his inaugural season with the Cavaliers, who're 19-19 after losing eight of their last 10 games, including five straight.
