The Cleveland Cavaliers offseason has kicked into high gear after two of their biggest stars have opted out of their contracts. When the clock strikes midnight on July 1, both Lebron James and Kevin Love are expected to be on the list of free agents.
Don't expect Lebron to stage a repeat of the Decision however. His move was already foreseen by many before the season began. When James completed his highly publicized return to his hometown team of Cleveland after a successful four year stint with the Miami Heat he signed a 2 year deal with a player option after the first year. The short contract allows James to take advantage of the NBA's projected salary cap increase in 2016. By opting out now and resigning with Cavs, James stands to earn about $400,000 more this year and puts him in prime position to sign a new mega deal when the cap rises with the league's new television deal.
Love's decision to opt out however is a bit more complicated. When Love arrived in Cleveland via the blockbuster trade that sent No. 1 picks Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota, he still had 2 years remaining on his current deal. Many were expecting him to opt into the last year of his contract, allowing him to enter free agency in 2016, when the salary cap is expected to skyrocket. By opting out now, he stands to make less money if he were to pen a long term extension with the Cavaliers.
Love's first season in Cleveland did have its ups and downs. The three time all-star saw his numbers decline as he struggled to find a place in the Cavs roster. Lebron James famously called him out on twitter and urged him to 'fit in'. Despite all this, Love has said that he is likely to resign with the Cavs long term.
Both he and Lebron were spotted meeting together in Los Angeles this past weekend, indicating that they may be in sync on one another's off season plans.
