Urban Meyer says no to the NFL… for now
January 13, 2015GIF: LeBron James posterizes Alex Len
January 13, 2015He may flail his arms out of frustration roughly a dozen times per contest, but Kevin Love continues to say all of the right things when it comes to his future in Cleveland. The Cavaliers are among the most disappointing stories in the entire NBA thus far, and Love is on the final year of a contract that can see him test free agency waters come July, but this hasn’t stopped the All-Star power forward from pushing his verbal chips into the middle of the table whenever he’s given the chance. The latest comes from NEOMG’s Chris Haynes, who reports that Love doesn’t even plan on opting out of his current deal come this season’s end.
Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers have gotten off to a mediocre 19-19 start, power forward Kevin Love told Northeast Ohio Media Group on Tuesday that he plans to forgo free agency this summer and opt in with the Cavaliers for the 2015-16 season.
“I think that we will figure it out here, so I don’t plan on opting out or any of that,” Love told NEOMG. “I plan on being here. As far as leaving my options open, I mean sure, it’s always there. At the end of the day, it’s always good to have something but no, I plan on being here.” …
“I’ve said all along that I plan on being a Cavalier long-term,” Love said without hesitation. “As we continue to evolve, my role will continue to evolve. It’s still a process where I’m figuring it out.”
Love has been the focus of immense scrutiny and debate since joining the Cavaliers as the team dealt for the impending free agent under the assumption that he would be here for the long haul. Of course, the assumption was also that the 20-and-10 machine would slot right into the Cavs rotation and help carry them to the Promised Land. As the losses have piled up, however, it’s Love who has become the focal point of immense rumor and innuendo surrounding a departure, the most recent coming in the way of comments from head coach David Blatt who referred to the Olympian as “not a max [contract] player.”
Love will earn $15.7 million this season. By picking up his $16.7 million player option for 2015-16, the 26-year-old would stay with the Cavs until at least the summer of 2016 where he would then be free to negotiate a deal with anyone. It was believed that Love would opt out of his current deal, either signing a maximum extension (five years, starting at roughly $18.5 million per year) or potentially signing a one-year deal with the Cavs (or another team, depending on who you trust) in advance of the impending increase in the league’s salary cap. If Love waits until next summer and starts a new contract with the Cavs, he could sign for up to five years and an estimated $107 million. If Love does opt out and re-sign with the Cavs, he could a $2.2 million raise with a $20.4 million player option for 2016-17. At this point, it whether he opts out and re-signs or picks up his option as stated becomes a matter of semantics. It’s believed that Love will follow LeBron James’ lead in the offseason, using the financially savvy four-time MVP as a lodestar to riches.1
When joining Cleveland, Love iterated that he was in for the long term. Following rumors surrounding a potential departure from Cleveland earlier this year, Love told ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike in the Morning that if he the ability to prove his word at present time, he would. This latest report merely serves as another reminder of the power forward’s alleged intentions—if you even believe him.
- There will obviously be discussion surrounding whether or not the team should sign Love. Entertaining these types of talks would be absurd. Is he playing like a max player? That’s debatable. But if the team does not re-sign him, they’re no better off as they’ll still be above the cap and would only have a mid-level-type exception at their disposal. Is Love better than a mid-level player? Undoubtedly. [↩]
5 Comments
“I think that we will figure it out here, so I don’t plan on opting out or any of that,” I think most rational Cavs fans, as welll as Lebron, and the players realized it would be a process. The Gloom, doom, and panic has been media driven. Desperately trying to create a story where there isn’t one. I’ve said earlier, the Cavs will reach the second round of the playoffs, just by showing up with a healthy LeBron.
It’s a frame of mind. Enough worrying about your roles, Love, Irving and Lebron can play. Just go out and play guys. The mindset is you are better than the opposition.
They way we are going, that would mean beating a top 3 team in the first round
In theory,maybe,but the fact is that they aren’t. Love’s lack of defense ability was overshadowed by his being the featured player on a Timberwolves team that never won anything. He had a lot of gaudy numbers in games that the Wolves lost. Love has a LOT to prove before he can be judged to be a top NBA player.
Love was, by far, the best player on a Wolves team last year that went .500 in a very tough conference, finished 9th in offense, 12th in defense which plays out to an expected record of 48-34. Yes, the Wolves have generally not been any good, but he wasn’t just putting up points in garbage time of meaningless games last year. He was a lot better than he’s looked this year.
The guy who is not getting as much heat but has never had the success that even Love has had that’s a problem fit for the roster is, ahem, Kyrie Irving.