All-Star power forward Kevin Love is currently balling for the Cleveland Cavaliers but that doesn't mean he'll stay with the team beyond this season, as Bleacher Reporter writer Dan Favale believed the double-double machine is still up for grabs next summer.
In his latest free-agency rankings for next year, Favale surprsingly ranked Love as the biggest player set to be available for the summer of 2015 despite the fact the Cavs are expected to offer their Alll-Star big man a five-year, $120-plus million extension contract.
"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," according to Bleacher Report.
However, there's a possibility he might test the free-agency waters as he seeks not only for greener pasture but more recognition as the 'main man' for a championship contender.
Big market teams like the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to make a hard push towards snatching Love from the Cavs, while the Houston Rockets is seen as a dark-horse in the sweepstakes.
"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," the Bleacher Report analyst stated.
Why Does The Lakers Still Have Shot at Love?
A proud UCLA product, Love has certainly entertained thought of playing for the Lakers in the past. In fact, the purple-and-gold emerged as the top destination for the forward before the Cavs snatched him out of nowhere with a blockbuster trade last offseason.
Although the chance of the Lakers getting Love through free-agency is pretty slim, there's nothing wrong to be optimistic that one day basketball Gods will conspire to save Lakers from jeopardy by sending the franchise-savior they have been looking for in Love.
After all, all it needs is little spark to ignite chaos among big egos in that Cavaliers locker room. A subpar season (say failing to advance to the finals) for the Cavs might prompt Love to have second thought on re-signing with his current team, and the Lakers would surely welcome that development with open arms.
Love is averaging at least 19 points and 15 rebounds in 41 minutes per game this season for the star-studded Cavs, who are still looking for the right recipe after dropping two of their first three games - including a 101-82 blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
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