Former Minnesota Timberwolves player Kevin Love’s time in Cleveland may be coming to an end – sooner than expected. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Love has opted out of the final year of his contract with the Cavaliers.
Love’s decision means he will forego the final year of his contract worth $16.7 million and will become a free agent on July 1.
Stein notes that Cleveland was expecting the decision and the Cavs will attempt to re-sign the forward they traded Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota to acquire.
But it appears that Cleveland won’t be alone in their pursuit of Love.
As mentioned in Kevin Love link, one wild card to track is Portland. Blazers widely expected to pursue Love if they lose LaMarcus Aldridge
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 24, 2015
In addition to Portland, ESPN notes that the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics could also take a run at Love.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Love was always going to opt out of the contract, if only to sign a one-year deal to remain with Cleveland.
“Even if he wants to remain with the Cavs long-term, it’s in his best interests to a) get as much money as possible now, and signing a one-year deal at the max will pay him around $3 million more than the final year of his previous deal, and b) put himself in the best position to be a free agent in one of the following two offseasons, when the league’s TV deal kicks in and the salary cap spikes.”
Love was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2008 and played his first six seasons in Minnesota. He was traded to Cleveland last offseason for Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young.
After failing to make the postseason during his career in Minnesota, Love was injured during the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with Cleveland and forced to miss the remainder of the postseason.
