New rumors seem to come out daily about Kevin Love's future with the Cleveland Cavaliers. One NBA insider reported Love essentially faces three choices in free agency this summer, and one choice - largely because of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics' cap space situations - is more likely to happen than the other two.
The type of rumors flooding the Internet about Love is the kind you hear about a star player on a losing team. Not on a second-seed title contender. Nonetheless, the rumors and the predictions keep coming. Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler, who does have a strong track record in reporting, has long suggested Love is on the fence about playing for Cleveland beyond this season. On Thursday, Kyler reported Love essentially has three options after the season, with one option being more likely to happen than the other.
"There are a few schools of thought on Love's future, the biggest being Cleveland can and likely will overpay to keep him. Money talks," Kyler wrote. "The second is that Love wins a championship in Cleveland, says 'thank you' and walks to a team in free agency where he can be more of a focal point. The last being that Love does indeed leave some $3.3 million on the table, stays in his current deal and explores whether a second season in Cleveland can be better than the first and maybe add or compete for a second championship, assuming the Cavs win the first one. ...
"The common belief is that Love is opting out and exploring his future on his terms, and while the Cavs are not out of the picture by any leap of the imagination, there is a sense that Love is going to look because this summer presents an opportunity for him to be one of the top free agents in the market, which would not be the case in 2016."
Kyler pointed to the Lakers and the Celtics as part of the reason Love will likely explore free agency this summer. Both teams, which were linked to Love last summer, would have the salary cap space to sign him to a big contract in free agency. Possibly even more important to Love than playing for a contender, either team would be able to make him an integral part of its offense.
With Love's role as the team's No. 3 option - at best - and his dipping numbers, along with a report of a rift between Love and LeBron James, returning to being a team's centerpiece ultimately may be more appealing at this stage of his career than winning a title.
Time will tell.
