Soon-to-be free agent Kevin Love reiterated he plans to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. He dismissed the myriad free-agency rumors, which have linked him to teams such as the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Houston Rockets and the Boston Celtics.
Love has been the subject of rumors all season long. Those rumors ramped up after his postseason ended prematurely with a shoulder injury, leading to further speculation he would test the market in July. Love, though, spoke to the media for the first time since his injury and told reporters he plans on being in a Cavaliers uniform next season.
"I truly haven't even thought about it,'' Love said Sunday, according to the New York Post. "I expect to be suiting up for Game 1. Next year."
When asked if with the Cavaliers, Love responded, "Yes, sir. ... I still feel like I'll be part of this."
Love has been linked to a number of teams, but the top landing spots for him reportedly are New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Boston. The Knicks and the Lakers have been linked to him since last summer, when he was still with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both teams will have the cap space to make Love a rich man, and both teams have offenses that could be adjusted to make Love the No. 1 or the No. 2 option - something Cleveland can't do with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving on the roster.
Houston has emerged as a new serious-contender for him, thanks in part to boasting a roster headlined by stars James Harden and Dwight Howard. Howard, however, isn't a score-first center, meaning Love would receive plenty of touches as the team's No. 2 option on offense.
Boston was linked to Love last summer, but despite a report last week from Comcast Sportsnet indicating Love's free-agency decision would come down to the Lakers or the Celtics, Boston seems an unlikely landing spot for Love. Especially after Celtics big Kelly Olynyk ended his season with what Love called a "bush league" play.
Love must notify Cleveland of whether he plans to opt out of his contract before the end of June.
