Kevin Love Rumors: Updates and Buzz Surrounding Star's Future with Cavaliers

Kevin Love is still figuring out how to jell with his new Cleveland Cavaliers teammates amid the best opportunity he's ever had to win an NBA championship, never mind qualify for the playoffs, but that doesn't mean he's still not weighing his options to play elsewhere next season.

Continue for updates.

Friday, Nov. 14

Love Denies Lakers Interest

Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal has the latest on Love's reported interest in the Lakers:

"

Kevin Love denied a report he’s interested in joining the Lakers next season while poking fun at all the attention his handshake with Kyrie Irving has received.

“Whatever we were doing with our hands was about as true as me going to the Lakers,” Love said Friday. “Going to the Lakers, I don’t know where someone got that.”

"

Love Reportedly Considering Opt-Out to Join the Lakers

Even with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving at his side, though, Love may reportedly be having second thoughts about taking his talents to Cleveland—or at least won't be doing so for more than one season. 

An opt-out clause in Love's contract following the 2014-15 NBA campaign may lead to a return to Los Angeles, exchanging his Cavaliers jersey to become a Laker, according to Sam Smith of NBA.com:

"

It's not going to get as much discussion during the season, but one of the biggest issues for the Cavs is that both LeBron James and Kevin Love own opt outs after this season. LeBron James basically cannot afford to go anywhere after his return to Cleveland. But watch out for Love. Indications are he will seriously consider the opt out and has his eyes on a return to Los Angeles, where he attended college and where the Lakers long have had him on their free agent wish list.

"

Ethan Strauss of ESPN had an interesting take on the situation:

Such a move would disband Cleveland's rockstar trio before it reaches its potential. With such high expectations to deliver a Larry O'Brien Trophy for a city on such a major sports championship drought, there is a lot for Love to adjust to.

Love also stands to make more money in renegotiating a lengthy deal with the Cavs or elsewhere.

This quote from Love embodies what he and his teammates face on a nightly basis, via CBS Cleveland's Daryl Ruiter:

The Cavs haven't been lighting it up. They're off to a 2-3 start ahead of Monday's showdown with the New Orleans Pelicans. However, there is plenty of season left for all the promising pieces in Cleveland to come together.

If Love truly is considering bailing out and returning to the City of Angels, that comes with considerable risk, as opposed to playing with two of the best players in the game with his current squad. Just after joining the Cavs this offseason, he said he was committed long-term to staying in Cleveland.

Love is still at a career crossroads and entering his prime, so it makes sense that he's not ruling anything out at this point. If and when he, James and Irving put it all together, perhaps his mindset will change.