Kevin Love says he doesn’t ‘plan’ on becoming a free agent this summer

Despite his own struggles and a media firestorm set off by his head coach perhaps questioning his value, Kevin Love said he does not plan to opt out of his contract and potentially leave the Cavaliers after one year. The Cleveland forward told Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Media Group that while he has the opt-out in his back pocket, he doesn’t plan to use it.

“I think that we will figure it out here, so I don’t plan on opting out or any of that,” Love said. “I plan on being here.

“As far as leaving my options open, I mean sure, it’s always there,” he continued. “At the end of the day, it’s always good to have something. But no, I plan on being here.”

This is not the first time Love affirmed his commitment to the team. In December, he said, “I’m a Cleveland Cavalier,” adding that if he could end any speculation, he would. But this is the first time that Love explicitly said he does not plan to opt out and become a free agent.

Love’s current contract has a $16.7 million player option for 2015-16 and almost everyone assumed he’d exercise that to become an unrestricted free agent and secure a long-term max payday, whether with Cleveland or elsewhere. With the Cavaliers struggling, Love’s role in the offense dwindling and Blatt’s recent comments, speculation increased that Love would bolt after a season like Dwight Howard did following a disappointing year with the Lakers in 2012-13.

But if Love follows through on his plan to opt in, he will delay his free agency a year, much like Chris Paul did after being traded to the Clippers. Paul’s decision gave the Clippers two years to surround him with the right talent, and Paul followed through with his end of the bargain by inking a five-year, $107 million contract extension following the 2012-13 season.

Love may also benefit financially from delaying his free agency a year. The league’s massive new television contract will kick in before the 2016-17 season and most experts believe the salary cap will rise significantly that summer. By waiting a year, Love would hypothetically be able to cash in on that boom.

Love is averaging 17.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, both down from last year, and he’s struggled defensively in Blatt’s aggressive system. But he’s been consistent in wanting to work through his issues and forgave Blatt for saying that he’s “not a max player yet.” (Blatt later said he responded that way because he couldn’t discuss Love’s future contract and did not mean to take a shot a Love).