The relationship between Kevin Love and LeBron James is apparently just fine. And if it isn’t, there are now 110 million reasons for the two of them to figure things out.
Through a post on The Players’ Tribune entitled “Unfinished Business,” Love announced on Wednesday that he is staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Yeah, of course I’ve heard the free agency rumors,” he wrote. “But at the end of the day, and after meeting with my teammates (it turns out pools are great meeting places) and with the front office, it was clear Cleveland was the place for me. We’re all on the same page and we’re all in. We have unfinished business and now it’s time to get back to work.”
The pool comment was in reference to Love and some of his Cavs teammates — LeBron included — being photographed hanging out poolside in the Los Angeles area over the weekend.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports that Love’s new deal is worth $110 million over five years. It likely contains a player option for the fifth year.
In addition to keeping Love, the Cavs are also reportedly closing in on an $80 million deal with restricted free agent Tristan Thompson.
Perhaps that report about LeBron not recruiting Love this time around had to do with the fact that Love was never planning to leave in the first place. There was some talk about the possibility of the Cavs exploring a sign-and-trade with Love and keeping Thompson, but apparently owner Dan Gilbert is not worried about paying an astronomical amount in luxury tax. Winning a championship is clearly the priority in Cleveland.
