Cleveland Cavaliers NBA 2014 News, Rumors: Will Kevin Love Opt Out And Join LA Lakers Next Year?

Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers is said to be considering an opt out, and he is reportedly looking with interest at the Los Angeles Lakers.

The opt out -- which could supposedly take place this coming summer, according to Sam Smith of Bulls.com -- appears to be a consequence of the refusal of former Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn to give Love the five-year max extension off his rookie contract.

The Cavs' situation with Love is made more complicated by the fact that LeBron James also has dibs to an opt out for this season. However, the idea of Love moving on and out is much closer to reality than that of James, which is why the rumors regarding an opt out have been centered mostly on Love.

Should Love ever acquire free agent status after a successful opt out, chances are high that he will want to go back to Los Angeles, his former stomping grounds. Los Angeles is where Love studied. It has also been well known among loyal Lakers fans that the Lakers are also interested in having Love join them.

Aside from all those considerations, however, a move by Love would actually be more practical. This is because he stands to earn more by taking on a new max contract, rather than completing his contract with the Cavs. The Cavs contract is scheduled to be completed in 2016, making an opt out definitely seem sweeter and more logical.

Love's salary for the 2015-2016 period is projected to be $16,744,219. However, since his extensive experience makes him qualified for a higher max contract, coupled with the fact that the salary cap for the NBA is going higher, then Love estimates that he will be earning a max salary of $18,602,898 for the next playing season.