Kevin Love Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation on Star's Future with Cavaliers

As long as the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to struggle in 2014-15, speculation will continue to stir about All-Star Kevin Love's future with the team.   

Continue for updates.

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Love Comments on Future With Cavs

Sunday, Feb. 8

Dave McMenamin of ESPN passed along comments from Love on his future and the potential of joining the Los Angeles Lakers:

On Jan. 13, Love commented on his future in Cleveland, according to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com:

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I think that we will figure it out here, so I don't plan on opting out or any of that. 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. [...]

I've said all along that I plan on being a Cavalier long-term. As we continue to evolve, my role will continue to evolve. It's still a process where I'm figuring it out.

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Blatt Addresses "Max Contract" Comment

Monday, Jan 12

Dave McMenamin of ESPN and Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer provided a synopsis of what Cavs head coach David Blatt had to say regarding Love's future in Cleveland. He also addressed the "max contract" comment he made on Sunday:

The "max contract" comment stems from a previous quote from Sunday. Following the Cavs' loss to the Kings on Sunday, McMenamin provided a statement from Blatt, which might have been seen as a way to motivate Love:

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Blatt got defensive when a reporter pointed out the Cavs' struggles despite still having two 'max' players in the lineup in Love and Irving.

'Well, Kev's not a max player yet, is he?' Blatt responded.

Blatt presumably was alluding to the fact that Love signed a four-year extension with Minnesota in 2012 instead of the maximum length of five years, but Love's yearly salary was still the maximum number allowed at the time. Love is expected to opt out of the final year of his current contract this summer to sign another max deal.

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Love Unlikely to Sign Long Term?

Sunday, Jan. 11

Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal has an update from Sunday on Love's status based on what he's heard from executives around the Association:

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Love is unlikely to sign long term this summer because of the salary cap. He is expected to opt out of his current contract at the end of the season for cap purposes, but he might only sign a one-year deal to line up for what is expected to be a significant cap spike in the summer of 2016.

Love has said all the right things about re-signing with the Cavs this summer and the Cavs continue to insist he’s here long term. Executives around the league, however, continue to believe Love could leave Cleveland at the end of the season. We’ll see. There is still a long way to go.

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The Cavs have underwhelmed this season and have floundered without LeBron James in the lineup recently, prompting further buzz about whether Love will stick around to see through a title contender in Cleveland. 

Love has had a bit of an underwhelming start to his Cavs tenure, shooting under 45 percent from the floor this season. Cleveland.com's Dennis Manoloff analyzed Love's attitude toward the early adversity he's faced:

Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio relayed some recent words from Love that suggest he will indeed stick with Cleveland for the long haul:

Although fans do have some right to expect more out of Love as an individual, since he is such a big piece of the Cavs' potential championship puzzle, James is the key ingredient. There hasn't been enough time for James, Love and Kyrie Irving to be on the floor together and develop adequate chemistry to date.

General manager David Griffin also made some significant personnel moves as of late, trading away Dion Waiters and acquiring perimeter players J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert along with center Timofey Mozgov. When James returns to the floor, the rotation will be quite different.

Blatt is also adjusting to the NBA for the first time and now has to reshuffle his lineups in a big way on the fly. It's going to take time for Love to click with his newest teammates, in addition to James and Irving, before it can be determined whether the Cavs' all-in championship push is all for naught.

At least publicly, Love has indeed emphasized his commitment to Cleveland. He just has to follow through on that and fully buy in if this talented Cavs roster is to reach its full potential.