Kevin Love will opt out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and become a free agent in July, and despite reassurances throughout the year from Love that he planned to come back, there are talks of another superstar joining LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland.
There are rumors that Miami Heat SG Dwyane Wade is unhappy with the Heat front office after the team missed the postseason this past year, and sources say he is considering bolting South Beach after 12 seasons. The leading candidates, according to these sources are the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Because of L.A.'s massive amount of cap room and gutted roster all the top free agents, and even some stars that are not free agents have been linked. Kevin Love is often rumored to be L.A.-bound, LaMarcus Aldridge is believed to be intrigued and almost certainly leaving the Portland Trailblazers, and DeMarcus Cousins is in the mix to land in Hollywood via trade.
A different source said he would be surprised if Wade and the Heat parted ways.
"I don't see why they'd argue and fight after what they've both done for each other and for that franchise," the source said.
There are fit issues with both the Lakers and Cavaliers. Wade, 33, plays the same position as Kobe Bryant, and even if Bryant plans on retiring after this season, it's not hard to imagine there being a problem with two ball-dominant, Hall of Fame-bound two-guards fitting into one offense.
In Cleveland, a similar problem exists with Kyrie Irving. While Irving plays the point guard position, he functions as a shooting guard with LeBron doing much of the playmaking. Wade would become a third option at times, which is unlikely to suit him.
It is more likely that Wade re-signs with Miami than leaves, which makes Love's situation even more interesting. As a free agent Love is expected to receive multiple offers from the Lakers, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns, all of whom can offer a more integral role than he had in Cleveland. With the Cavaliers Love functioned mainly as a spot-up 3-point shooter, whereas in Minnesota he was given free reign to operate in the post as well as launch 3-pointers.
[CBS]
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