Although the Cleveland Cavaliers have been hot lately, rumors continue to persist that Kevin Love will leave in free agency. According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, "almost all" of the executives he spoke to believe Love will leave Cleveland after the season.
By all appearances, things are going well for Cleveland. The front office made trades to shore up holes in the roster, the players are continuing to build chemistry and the team's gone on to win 14 of their last 16 games.
While the Cavaliers' early-season struggles seem like a distant memory, it hasn't quelled the speculation that Love will leave Cleveland this summer.
"Almost all of the executives I've talked to believe he's leaving Cleveland after this year," Broussard said Thursday on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" program.
Love admitted he's struggled to find his role on the court, where he's gone from being the No. 1 option in Minnesota to the No. 3 option in Cleveland. There'd been talk Love would opt out of his contract after the season and bolt from Cleveland as a free agent, but much of that speculation came earlier in the season when Cleveland was struggling.
It's uncertain exactly how many league executes Broussard spoke to, but it's interesting nonetheless to continue hearing reports about Love's supposedly impending departure - despite the fact his numbers, for the most part, have improved each month.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been mentioned the most in connection to Love, with a report in November indicating Love would "seriously consider" signing with them in the summer.
For his part, Love has said all the right things about wanting to stay in Cleveland beyond this season. He also said he didn't plan to opt out of his contract this summer.
While speculative, it's possible Love does the risky thing of not seeking a long-term contract this summer for two seasons: 1) to be able to sign a new contract in 2016, when the salary cap is expected to increase significantly, and 2) to give it one more season in Cleveland to decide if that's where he wants to stay for the next four to five years.
