I’m going back to Cleveland.
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.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com:
Love was always likely to return to the Cavaliers, at least for next season. We saw Cleveland get within two wins of a title with both Love and Kyrie Irving sidelined due to injury, and with the Cavaliers offering Love the maximum amount of money possible, the decision to return became extremely easy one for him to make.
It was possible Love could have taken the type of deal most of us expect to see go to LeBron James -- a one-year max contract, with a player option for a second season. That would have allowed him to take advantage of the influx of money that will be available when the salary cap spikes in advance of the 2016-17 season, but as we’ve seen with the many deals going down on free agency’s first day, players aren’t leaving any money on the table, and are accepting four- and five-year contracts for as much money as possible.