Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love could still be available on the free-agency market next summer, despite a looming big extension with his current team, according to Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale.
Love, who could opt out from the final year of his contract and become a free-agent next summer, is still drawing interest from several big-market teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets.
"Still, if his plan is to opt out, there will be a courting frenzy. Big-market squads such as the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Lakers could all have cap space to burn, and the 26-year-old is the type of player to burn it on," Favale stated in his article.
Although the Cavs are expected to offer a five-year, $120-plus million deal for Love at the end of this season, there's a presumption that he might still explore the free-agency market for the opportunity of becoming 'the man' for a championship contender.
"Even Love's predicted contract length implies he isn't going anywhere, since the Cavaliers are the only team that could offer him a five-year deal. Wojnarowski also reported that Cleveland traded for the power forward with "a firm agreement Love will opt out of his contract in 2015 and re-sign" next summer. In all likelihood, he's staying put," Favale stressed.
The Cavaliers acquired Love this summer after pulling off a blockbuster deal that saw two first overall picks, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, & a first-rounder go to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for the double-double machine.
So far, Love is averaging 17.5 points and 15 rebounds in his first two games in gold-and-wine jersey - which is a huge drop-off statistically compared to his 26 points and 12 rebounds average in his last season with the T-Wolves.
However, Love stressed from the time he arrived in Cleveland that he doesn't care playing second-fiddle to LeBron James as long as they are in position to win games and championships.
