Kevin Love is hitting the open market.
The 6-foot-10 forward has decided to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein on Wednesday. That will make Love an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Now, this does not mean Love’s time in Cleveland definitely is over. He very well could re-sign with the Cavs and rejoin LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Co. for a second run at an NBA title.
Love, for what it’s worth, said during this year’s playoffs that he expects to return to Cleveland next season.
Any NBA team now will be able to make Love an offer this summer, however, and the recent emergence of Tristan Thompson has complicated Cleveland’s power forward rotation.
Grantland’s Zach Lowe also discussed another potential option in his Tuesday column.
“(Cavs general manager David) Griffin has repeatedly said the Cavs plan to keep Love,” Lowe wrote, “but plugged-in executives around the league continue to predict the Cavs will sign-and-trade Love after advancing so far without him. That would unclutter the power forward spot, and if the Cavs can recoup rotation players and picks, they’d have to at least consider it.”
Free agency opens one week from Wednesday. Get ready for some fun.
Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images
