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In NBA free agency, there’s no such thing as a certainty until a contract is signed. Despite the rumors you may hear, the teams who are reportedly front-runners to sign a big-name star or anything else floated around by various sources, it’s not official until pen meets paper.
That said, if the latest news about star forward Kevin Love is true, you’d like to think we’re getting a clear idea of which team he’ll be playing for next season.
Love, who opted out of the final year of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, spent much of the past few months publically hammering home his desire to remain with the team. However, the majority of national media isn’t convinced, as there’s still a common belief he wants to play elsewhere. Word is the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets are all teams who’d like to meet with Love and make their pitches.
According to Fox Sports Ohio’s Sam Amico, though, said teams might want to focus elsewhere when it comes to targeting free agents. Amico tweeted this morning that Love has recently indicated to Cleveland he plans on returning to the team.
Say what you will about the possibility of things changing before free agency kicks off this Wednesday. As mentioned, nothing will be set in stone until Love officially signs with someone. That said, this is yet another sign Love staying with the Cavs is the most likely scenario.
I’ve written about the Love saga relatively frequently for the past few months, specifically noting how his remaining in Cleveland is much more probable than many are leading on. I’ve made sure to caveat each article with the note that, yes, despite Love saying he wants to stay with the Cavs, there’s still a chance he bolts.
However, it’s starting to get to a point where such a scenario is looking less likely by the day.
Yes, a team like the Lakers can offer Love a chance to be back on the west coast. Sure, the Celtics could give Love the opportunity to be the main offensive threat again. A wild card club like the Portland Trail Blazers could tease the prospect of playing in Oregon where he grew up.
At the same time, none of those teams were just two wins away from an NBA Championship. None of those teams defeated the vaunted Golden State Warriors twice in the Finals despite missing two of their best players. And, most importantly, none of these teams can offer Love the most money for the most years.
The only franchise who fits all of the above is the Cavaliers. This fact is not something which is lost on Love, and something made all the more true by this latest development.
Again, nothing is official until he actually re-signs with Cleveland (there’s that caveat, again). If any of the other aforementioned clubs get a chance to meet with Love, it could end up being a game-changer.
That said, we have a player who has frequently claimed he expects to wear a Cavs jersey come opening night next season. We have a GM who seems more than confident he can make such a scenario happen despite the whispers of Love wanting out permeating through the league. And, as of this morning, we have word Love has insisted to Cleveland management he plans on coming back.
Nobody will truly buy the idea of Love re-signing with the Cavs as a sure thing until it actually happens. Despite this, today’s report seems to be yet another indication that Love’s rumored dissatisfaction with Cleveland is being just a tad overblown.
Casey Drottar is the Cleveland Beat Writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter or “Like” him on Facebook
