Kevin Love: 'I don't plan on opting out or any of that'
The Cleveland Cavaliers may want to hire a capologist.
Just a couple of days after head coach David Blatt erroneously claimed Kevin Love was not a maximum contract player, Love himself is now speaking as if he's going to ignore a major tenet of the collective bargaining agreement this summer.
Love said Tuesday he doesn't plan to opt out of his contract this summer, even though it could provide quite the windfall.
"I think that we will figure it out here, so I don't plan on opting out or any of that," Love told Northeast Ohio Media Group. "I plan on being here. As far as leaving my options open, I mean sure, it's always there. At the end of the day, it's always good to have something but no, I plan on being here."
Love has a player option for next season valued at $16.7 million - a sizable salary, but one that smart fiscal planning would see him decline. If Love opts out, he can sign a five-year maximum contract with the Cavs, which would start at an estimated salary of $18.7 million. He would stand to make more in 2015-16 and create long-term financial security with the five-year pact.
While Love has said he's not planning on opting out, the rest of his comments are somewhat vague. He's adamant he's in Cleveland for the long-haul, but it's possible his comments about not opting out are just his way of assuring fans that if he opts out, he'll be re-signing with the Cavaliers.
There are two small reasons Love may consider playing out 2015-16 and then becoming an unrestricted free agent, even if such a strategy carries a great deal of injury risk. The first is that LeBron James has a contract structured so that he can leave in 2015 or 2016, and unlikely as that is, Love may want to wait and make sure he's signing on to play with James.
The second is that the salary cap is set to jump in 2016, making the value of a maximum contract more valuable. He may sacrifice security and a few million in 2015-16, but if the max deal he then signs in 2016 is worth significantly more than one signed in 2015, it wouldn't be the worst gamble.
Though Love has been somewhat disappointing in his first 37 games in Cleveland, he remains a max contract player. He's averaging 17.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists while hitting 34.5 percent of his threes, and he's rounded further into form with James sidelined of late, possibly portending a hot second half.