The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the best team in the NBA during the second half of the season and while adding Kevin Love has been a boost, reports have LeBron James frustrated with Love for not "fitting in" and that plays into reports that Love could opt out of his deal in free agency this summer to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, NY Knicks or Boston Celtics.
Love was the prime target for teams over the summer and the Cavaliers ended up making the deal after giving up Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News writes that James is frustrated with Love and that the forward is "viewed by some as an aloof player" and he adds that he has "alienated" teammates in both Minnesota and Cleveland, including James.
During the season there have been reports that Love and James have not gotten along and the report from Isola backs that up. Isola writes that James has been "frustrated" that Love has been "unwilling" to make things work and that he has not integrated himself enough in the team or the offense. Pro Basketball Talk writes that James has taken to social media and the media itself to try and light a spark under Love and if things don't improve, there is a chance he could opt out and leave.
That is unlikely after all the Cavaliers have given up for him, but PBT also adds that David Blatt has once said Love is not a max player and he has also benched Love in the fourth quarters of games. While all of that doesn't mean he will be leaving, as PBT writes, "there are cracks in the foundation" and that could lead him to at least think about opting out and leaving. Some reports have Love opting out and signing back with the Cavaliers, but once he does opt out, the media will speculate like crazy about what he will do.
The Lakers and Knicks will have a ton of money to spend and they have not been shy about their interest in Love. The Lakers would love to land Love -no pun intended-as that was their original plan before he was traded to the Cavaliers. The Lakers, Knicks and Celtics all will have money to spend and Pro Basketball Talk reports that if he hits the market, the teams will chase him. Love has been hounded by media reports saying that he likely will opt out of his contract after the season, but he has disputed those stories.
When Love was acquired over the summer there were reports that the Cavs were planning to sign him to a max extension when he opted out, but according to NBA rules, that is not allowed. Love likely will get max money when he hits the market, whether it be in the summer of 2015 or when his contract runs out in 2016.
Funny enough, Love had one of his best games of the season against the Grizzlies on Wednesday and that could be the start of a good run for him in the offense. The Cavs got a big win over a top team in the west and Love ended up with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and two blocks in the game.