The Cleveland Cavaliers are planning to keep Kevin Love, but he can hit the free agent market this summer and if that happens, teams like the LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, NY Knicks and Cavs will all be interested in signing him and it comes as Love has reportedly said he plans on signing a short-term deal as his next contract.
Love has business on the mind and he realizes that signing a long term deal now will keep him from signing a new deal when the salary cap is expected to spike in 2016. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Love may stay with the Cavaliers through the summer and play out his contract rather than opt out in 2015, as he would set himself up for a long term deal in the summer of 2016. Love also could opt out, sign back with the Cavs and still set himself up on a short term deal, but Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal writes that he likely will wait to sign a long term contract.
Love was traded over the summer to the Cavaliers and while he has the chance to opt out, Love did come out to say to reporters that he plans on staying through his contract. Love said to Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Media Group that he plans on being in Cleveland and that while his options are open, he wants to be with the Cavs long term. David Blatt made some comments about Love not being a max player yet, but either way the Cavaliers are interested in keeping him when they have the chance to sign him again.
When Love was first traded to the Cavaliers, some reports said that he was planning to sign a five year extension once he could opt out. Love threw some water on those rumors but they have persisted and now heading into next summer he may just play the waiting game. The salary cap is expected to rise and at his age, Love will still be in the prime of his career and set up to get big money. LeBron James signed a short deal with the Cavs and he also will be able to cash in once the new TV deals give the league and teams even more money.
Love has a $16,744,219 player option for next season so he still will be getting paid a nice salary no matter what he does. The 2016 cap is expected to rise quite a bit and if he waits, he could end up getting around $20 million depending on what the number is. The Cavaliers have been struggling this season and they have now lost nine of 10 games. The team is just 19-20 on the season and they just got back LeBron James after an absence for an injury.
The Cavaliers pulled off a number of trades, acquiring JR Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov, but it's too soon top judge how those will work out. Defense has been an issue for the Cavs and that is why they went after Mozgov, as Love can sometimes be a liability on that side of the floor. Love, Kyrie Irving and James is as good of a Big 3 as any team in the league, but right now the Cavs need to find a way to play better together.