Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love reportedly is set on testing free agency after the season, in part because of his disdain for playing "the Chris Bosh Role." If Love does leave Cleveland in free agency, a separate report claims he'll likely end up with the Los Angeles Lakers.
All season long reports have indicated Love may test free agency, and according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers have a "legitimate fear" Love opt out of his contract and sign elsewhere in July. Wojnarowski appeared on Wednesday's edition of the Dan Patrick Show and suggested Love has been awaiting his chance to test free agency.
"I think he has all year long looked longingly at free agency and the possibility of what else is out there," Wojnarowski said on the show, according to SB Nation.
Wojnarowski also said Love will make his decision "based on a regular season where he hasn't embraced or loved ... that Chris Bosh (role)."
"The Chris Bosh Role" came about in Miami, when Bosh was relegated to being the team's third option. In the case of Love, the Cavaliers mostly have him floating around the 3-point line to hit open threes and to space the floor. A report from Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler claimed Love would test free agency if he didn't feel like an integral part of the team, which he likely feels he is not as the team's third option.
A number of teams have been linked to Love, but Sporting News' Sean Deveney reported the Lakers are the top contenders to land the power forward.
"If Love does leave the Cavs this year, he's much more likely to do so in order to go home to Los Angeles and play for the Lakers," Deveney wrote Tuesday.
Los Angeles has long been reported as a likely destination for Love, and the team is expected to have the salary cap space to sign him to a max deal. Other teams interested in him include the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
