Kevin Love to opt out, test free agency (rumor)

[rondohondo]

The decision needs to be made about Love's future and Cleveland and what exactly that entails ? and who it involves.

According to Brian Windhorst from ESPN.com, the Cavaliers are expecting to hear Kevin Love tell them he's declining his player option for the 2015-16 season.

    James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova could all be free agents by July 1.

    James, Love and Smith have player options for next season and all are expected to decline them.


If this is true, then it is concurrent to what Love has stated whenever he has been asked about his contract. The last time anyone checked, Love said that he'd be suiting up as a Cavaliers starter on opening night next season. If he opts out, then it's a definitive answer to the question of whether or not he plans on testing free agency or riding out another year with Cleveland.

Cavaliers fans will remain adamant that the team will re-sign Love, but let's not forget that there is legitimate fear he'll leave. That was a month ago, but let's also not forget how Kevin Love teased Timberwolves fans by not totally committing to opting out when he was in Minnesota.

The Cavaliers can offer Love the most money in a max deal, but the question is would they want to do that? LeBron James is going to have to sign off on that, and if he hesitates then Love might just choose to opt out and take the hesitation as the final middle finger that broke the camel's back.

Love would be wise to come back for another season and see if things work out better in year two ? but cashing in on that max contract right now might be too tempting for him to pass up.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/06/18/nba-rumors-kevin-love-to-opt-out-test-free-agency/21198039/
Not sure this really means anything , but thought it was worth posting. Hopefully he does test free agency , Danny, work your magic!

[Birdman]

He is going to LA with Rondo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WeMadeIt17]

Well I can say i can't wait till july 1st.

[rondohondo]

Well I can say i can't wait till july 1st.

indeed

[danglertx]

What a tricky situation.  On one hand, I don't think the Cavs want to give Love max money because between him, Tristan Thompson, Lebron, and Irving, the cap is going to be pretty maxed out.  Especially if Lebron isn't taking any discount like he says he won't.  They are also going to have to pay Mozgov in two years.  They gave up two first for him so they won't want to just let him go.  He also outplayed Bogut in the finals pretty handily.

So if Love does opt out, he might not have the decision of going back.  And does he want to go back anyway?  Remember when he was a max money making spot shooter?  Or when he wasn't playing in the 4th quarter of games? 

But, will Cleveland have the space to get another max guy anyway?  I think what Cleveland would really want is to sign Love and then trade him for a guy they really need. 

[rondohondo]

What a tricky situation.  On one hand, I don't think the Cavs want to give Love max money because between him, Tristan Thompson, Lebron, and Irving, the cap is going to be pretty maxed out.  Especially if Lebron isn't taking any discount like he says he won't.  They are also going to have to pay Mozgov in two years.  They gave up two first for him so they won't want to just let him go.  He also outplayed Bogut in the finals pretty handily.

So if Love does opt out, he might not have the decision of going back.  And does he want to go back anyway?  Remember when he was a max money making spot shooter?  Or when he wasn't playing in the 4th quarter of games? 

But, will Cleveland have the space to get another max guy anyway?  I think what Cleveland would really want is to sign Love and then trade him for a guy they really need.

s+t with boston

Bos sends: Wallace, Sully and AB
Cle sends: Love

This way Cleveland gets 2 players that can help a contending team

Boston gets love, and opens up more cap space to sign another max player along with love .

[D.o.s.]

^Love won't agree to a S&T, he'll just become a free agent instead.

Who else are they going to spend the money on, if not Love?

The way these contracts are falling, this is almost like watching the Heatles + Anthony all sit around waiting for massive deals at once.

[rondohondo]

^Love won't agree to a S&T, he'll just become a free agent instead.

Who else are they going to spend the money on, if not Love?

The way these contracts are falling, this is almost like watching the Heatles + Anthony all sit around waiting for massive deals at once.

if love is going to leave anyways the cavs might as well get some useful role players in return . If he decides he is signing with Boston , cavs options are let him walk for nothing or get something in return.

It would also help love's new team(the c's) by clearing more cap space to add another max

same situation as Aldridge....

[perks-a-beast]

This may just be the homer in me but i think Boston could be a legitimate contender to sign Love. Not only can we offer him a max contract but hes good friends with Isaiah Thomas and has the oppurtunity to be "the man" in Boston, which i think is important to him. His game is tailored to thrive in Brad Stevens system as long as the Celtics can aquire a low post defensive presence.

I know alot of people have him signing with the Fakers, but i"d be willing to wager that KLove doesnt have the urge to go back to the highly competitive western conference, ecspecially to a team that finished with 20 something wins. At least in the eastern conference i think its almost a guarentee that this celtics team with Love would be a lock to make at least the second round of the playoffs.

Whether i want Kevin Love on the Celtics is a completely different story. I think hes a hell of a talent and a lock to make the all star team for at least the next five years depending on injuries. But he quit on the timberwolves, and couldnt seem to get it together with the Cavs this past season. The fact that hes been reluctant to sacrifice his game for the Cavs benefit is a huge red flag in my eyes. He just doesnt strike me as the most team oriented player.

Can anybody tell me what other teams will be in the running to sign him? Im not sure about other teams salary cap situations.

[footey]

What a tricky situation.  On one hand, I don't think the Cavs want to give Love max money because between him, Tristan Thompson, Lebron, and Irving, the cap is going to be pretty maxed out.  Especially if Lebron isn't taking any discount like he says he won't.  They are also going to have to pay Mozgov in two years.  They gave up two first for him so they won't want to just let him go.  He also outplayed Bogut in the finals pretty handily.

So if Love does opt out, he might not have the decision of going back.  And does he want to go back anyway?  Remember when he was a max money making spot shooter?  Or when he wasn't playing in the 4th quarter of games? 

But, will Cleveland have the space to get another max guy anyway?  I think what Cleveland would really want is to sign Love and then trade him for a guy they really need.

s+t with boston

Bos sends: Wallace, Sully and AB
Cle sends: Love

This way Cleveland gets 2 players that can help a contending team

Boston gets love, and opens up more cap space to sign another max player along with love .

good idea...

[Vermont Green]

Can anybody tell me what other teams will be in the running to sign him? Im not sure about other teams salary cap situations.

Of course I can't pretend to know but the Lakers and Knicks come to mind.

I actually feel like I am done with Love.  It was fine to chase him when we had Rondo and Green but at this point, I am not really all that interested in paying Love the max.

[rondohondo]

Can anybody tell me what other teams will be in the running to sign him? Im not sure about other teams salary cap situations.

Of course I can't pretend to know but the Lakers and Knicks come to mind.

I actually feel like I am done with Love.  It was fine to chase him when we had Rondo and Green but at this point, I am not really all that interested in paying Love the max.

Dallas, San Antonio and Indy could all have enough space to offer a max .

[perks-a-beast]

Wow. Indy would be an intriguing destination, especially if they can retain Hibbert and get Paul George playing at a high level again.

And i thought the Pierce/Garnett trade Nets trade was the biggest fleecing in recent memory. Could you imagine giving up 2 1 st overall picks for a one year rental who got injured in the first round? Holy cow. Once again, poor Cleveland.

[saltlover]

Indy only has room for Love if David West or Roy Hibbert opt out.  Neither are expected to do so.

[D.o.s.]

^Love won't agree to a S&T, he'll just become a free agent instead.

Who else are they going to spend the money on, if not Love?

The way these contracts are falling, this is almost like watching the Heatles + Anthony all sit around waiting for massive deals at once.

if love is going to leave anyways the cavs might as well get some useful role players in return . If he decides he is signing with Boston , cavs options are let him walk for nothing or get something in return.

It would also help love's new team(the c's) by clearing more cap space to add another max

same situation as Aldridge....

Love won't get the max contract he wants in a S&T. If he's leaving on a shortened opt-out deal like he has now because of the salary cap increase, he can't be part of an S&T anyway.