In the second day of free agency, a marquee player already has become unavailable for the Lakers.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward and former UCLA standout Kevin Love announces his plans to re-sign with the Cavaliers on the Player’s Tribune website.
“I’m going back to Cleveland,” Love wrote in the essay. 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.”
Love suffered a season-ending left shoulder injury in Game 4 of the Cavaliers’ first-round series against Boston. He actually reportedly experienced frustrations with both his role and LeBron James’ leadership approach. Yet, there remained mixed feelings around the league on whether Love would opt out to go to the Lakers to expedite their rebuilding or stay with the Cavaliers in hopes helping them to an NBA championship. Love reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth $100 million to stay in Cleveland.
“Yeah, of course I’ve heard the free agency rumors,” Love 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 Lakers had meetings with Portland center LaMarcus Aldridge on Tuesday evening as well as a meeting in Washington DC with Detroit center Greg Monroe. The Lakers plan to meet with Clippers center DeAndre Jordan in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.
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