Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has opted out of the final year of his contract and will become a free agent on July 1. This was a move that the Cavaliers have expected since the end of the 2014-15 season, but it officially puts Love on the open market.
Previously set to earn $16.7 million next year, Love can now sign a short-term one-year deal with an expected raise for the 2015-16 campaign and hit the open market next summer. He also has the option of agreeing to a long-term deal with another team.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is also reporting that the Boston Celtics plan to pitch Love on the idea of teaming up with pending free agents Robin Lopez and Paul Pierce to form another “Big 3” on the team.
Sources: If Kevin Love goes forward with visits in July, expect Boston to sell him on pursuing group of Love, Robin Lopez and…Paul Pierce.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2015
Honestly, I am not too sure how appetizing that option will be for Love should he test the open market with visits. Another report earlier this week indicated that the Cavaliers will look to sign Love to a long-term deal and then flip him for a player or two to fill out the team’s bench.
Love, 26, struggled big time in his first season with the Cavaliers. The three-time All-Star recorded 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds during the regular season. He was sidelined with a shoulder injury during the team’s first-round playoff matchup with the Boston Celtics, missing the duration of its run to the NBA Finals.
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