With the NBA Draft and free agency looming, the Cavs leading free agents in J.R. Smith and Kevin Love have opted out of their contracts. This was expected, however, as both players can earn more money by entering free agency.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported on Love.
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Opt-out sets up Love to sign extension w/ Cavs, but teams want crack at pitching him. Another suitor promising to be aggressive: Phoenix.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 24, 2015
Wojnarowski also reported that despite all the rumors and talks of Love leaving Cleveland via free agency, Cleveland remains the frontrunner to sign Love this offseason.
Cleveland remains the frontrunner to sign Love to a five-year, $100M-plus extension, but Love could be willing to hear out Celtics, Lakers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 24, 2015
Again: Love opting out sets him up for bigger payday in Cleveland, either in '16 or '17. But teams will obviously take a real run at him.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 24, 2015
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This news shouldn’t surprise anybody, but it is good to hear that Love is leaning towards keeping his word and staying with the Cavaliers while testing what the market is offering him. Besides the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trailblazers, and Boston Celtics are among teams interested in Love’s services.
Stay tuned for more on Love and the Cavs free agency.