Love: ‘I’m Going Back to Cleveland’

Love-Im-going-back-to-Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Love and Brooklyn Nets Mason Plume collide in the first half at Barclays Center in New York City on March 27, 2015. The Nets defeated the Cavaliers 106-98. UPI/John Angelillo

Love: ‘I’m Going Back to Cleveland’

Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Love and Brooklyn Nets Mason Plume collide in the first half at Barclays Center in New York City on March 27, 2015. The Nets defeated the Cavaliers 106-98. UPI/John Angelillo

July 1, 2015 (The Sports Xchange) — Kevin Love, who opted out of a deal with the Cavaliers in June, bypassing a $16.7 million salary for next season, announced Wednesday he would return to Cleveland.

“I’m going back to Cleveland,” Love wrote for The Players Tribune in a post released at 2:30 ET on Wednesday.

“After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, that’s when it really struck me. Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one. I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win. I couldn’t have been prouder of them as they poured their blood, sweat and tears onto the court.

“Yeah, of course I’ve heard the free agency rumors. 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.”

ESPN and NBA.com reported Love would visit the Los Angeles Lakers this week, but that will not occur.

The Cavaliers said they were not surprised by Love’s decision to opt out and hoped to re-sign the All-Star.

Love, who missed most of the Cavs’ run to the NBA Finals after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the playoffs, joined the Cavs last offseason via trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Love was playing in his first-ever playoff series when he dislocated his shoulder in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Boston Celtics on April 26. Boston forward Kelly Olynyk pulled down on Love’s left arm and yanked it out of the socket, forcing season-ending surgery.

Love played at UCLA and trains in Los Angeles. The Lakers and Celtics were among the teams expected to make a run at Love in free agency.

Love recently said that watching the Cavs face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals reiterated his desire to win a championship with LeBron James in Cleveland.

Love was asked on June 5 if he wanted to return to the Cavaliers next season.

“Yes. I want to win,” he said.

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