Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love has insisted that he wants to stay with his current teammates beyond this summer, but speculation hasn’t stopped over his future.
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Love hasn’t had the easiest of times in Cleveland this year, but he did start to show signs of settling in the team after averaging 18 points and nine rebounds through his first three playoff games against the Boston Celtics.
While his fourth was cut short in an incident with Kelly Olynyk which left him with a dislocated shoulder and threatens to sideline him for a minimum of a fortnight, there are still question marks over how long he will remain a Cavalier.
The 26-year-old has a player option for next season, if he opts out then that would give other teams an opportunity to swoop in for him, and those interested parties will include the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have been linked with the power forward for months, while the Celtics are also reportedly interested and could make an offer.
“He has never been completely comfortable in Cleveland, with his role, nor his connection to those around him. Throughout the year, league sources say, one destination grew in possibility as his exit strategy: The Boston Celtics,” Yahoo Sports reported.
Boston has been no sure thing to lure Love, but it had a better shot than most had believed. If Love left the Cavaliers, the Celtics had closed the gap on the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Given that Love accused Olynyk of purposely injuring him, that may have soured any possible deal that could have been on the table between the two parties, but it remains to be seen if he can come back this year and whether or not the Cavs go all the way to a championship.
That will in turn have an effect on his decision this summer, but the possibility of a departure remains a realistic one for the time being if the reports are to be believed.
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