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Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine
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AuxiliaryPie
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KLove lookin to be in the best shape of his life
Derek
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Yeah.. but if you're multiplying by 0...
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From Windhorst
---
Examining Love's contract situation
Originally Published: August 27, 2014
By Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com
CLEVELAND -- In one of those classic feel-good news conferences this week, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin welcomed new pickup Kevin Love by saying this was a "long-term relationship." Moments later Love himself, speaking publicly for the first time in months, said he was "committed to this team, committed long term."
Lots of smiles and pictures followed. But if everyone is committed long term then why is Love not signing a contract extension with the Cavs right now?
Like most things in this wing of the NBA, it's complicated. The bottom line, though, is this: the Cavs feel very strongly they will keep Love past this season but there is no plan for him to sign a new deal to guarantee it.
In July when the Cavs and Wolves moved to the verge of a deal, permission was given for the Cavs to meet with Love and owner Dan Gilbert did so. There were words said at that meeting, which the parties will not discuss at this point in time, that gave the Cavs some amount of comfort to finalize what became the biggest trade in franchise history.
Were there handshakes and winks? Maybe. But no one will discuss that because it's technically against the rules to strike such a deal, though these sorts of things take place in the league rather frequently. Either way, Love has no legal obligation past this season and the Cavs have no protection. This is one-year situation as of now and that will likely not change in the short term.
So, yes, the Cavs are accepting what normally would be an unsavory amount of risk. Because of the way his current contract is structured, Love is not.
Here is why.
The raw dollars are the easiest part of this situation to digest. By waiting until next summer to do a new contract, Love can make $2 million more per season going into the future than if he signs now. In total, Love can guarantee himself an additional $70 million by waiting instead of signing now.
That's why not signing with the Cavs now is in the no-brainer zone, regardless of how positive the feelings are at the moment.
There's about to be a whole bunch of numbers presented and it's easy to get confused. Before diving in just know that no agent would advise Love to sign now. And Love has one of the best agents currently working in the game, Jeff Schwartz. There's really not much of a discussion.
Let's attempt to explain this with some depth. If Love wanted to sign with the Cavs today it would have to be an extension of his current contract. The word "extension" is important here because of the way the NBA rules are set up on extensions vs. new contracts.
In 2012, Love signed a four-year, $61 million deal with the Wolves where the last season, the 2016-17 season, was a player option. Love will make $15.7 million this season and his option for next season is $16.7 million.
The Cavs would be quite happy to sign Love to an "extension" at this very moment to start with the 2016-17 season because it would mean he'd have to pick up that player option. An extension, however, could be for just two additional years and $37.3 million through the 2017-18 season under league rules. Doing it this way over the next four seasons, Love would be assured to earn $69 million.
If Love waits until next summer and starts a new contract with the Cavs, he could earn an estimated $76 million over the next four years. If he wanted the maximum years, he could actually sign for up to five years and an estimated $107 million if he wanted to next year.
Summing it up, he signs today and he assures himself $37 million more additional guaranteed dollars. He waits until next summer he can assure himself $107 additional guaranteed millions if he wants.
That's a lot of numbers and a lot of money but no matter all dizzying rules, the natural question to ask is the old adage about a bird in the hand being better than two in the bush. Doesn't Love risk injury and turning down a contract opens the risk Love could get hurt? Not totally.
That player option is like an insurance policy for Love. As Wolves owner Glen Taylor pointed out in a missive aimed at his former star on Minneapolis radio on Tuesday, Love indeed has had injury issues in his career. In the 2012-13 season he only played in 18 games because he broke his hand twice. If something happens this upcoming season that threatens his long-term value, he can just pick up the option and push free agency back to 2016.
That is the heart of the matter, the money. It's the biggest factor but not the only one that would contribute to Love not jumping in the deep end with the Cavs just yet.
The reason Love is in Cleveland now is because LeBron James is there. The Cavs were interested in trading for Love around the draft in June but Love was not willing to say then what he said this week, which is he's committed long term even if just in spirit at the moment. When James signed on, he called Love and the mood changed in an instant. Literally within minutes of James announcing his signing with the Cavs, they spoke on the phone and Love said "I'm in."
James, however, is only signed for one season with the Cavs. Though perhaps no player in recent memory has committed himself more to a team and a community than James did with his announcement, the contract he signed is just for one year with a player option. Just like Love has left on his deal.
Love became enamored playing with James during the 2012 Olympics and the two formed a bond. After six years of never playing with another All-Star in Minnesota and never making the playoffs, Love is extremely interested in joining up with a four-time MVP who is in his prime. If there is something that Love is truly committed to, it's playing alongside James for the foreseeable future. James is in Cleveland so that is where Love wants to be.
So talking about five year contracts or multi-year extensions with Love, who is just 25 years old, may be moot. Living in a new world where he is a teammate with James, Love is thinking that he wants to ensure that window he worked so hard to open stays that way for as long as possible.
Or, as Love said Tuesday: "Everything in my entire life for the last six years had led me up to this opportunity."
So Love may well follow James' lead. If James decides to sign long-term next summer when he can be a free agent, Love will too. If James just signs another one-year deal with an option to try to take advantage of an expected salary-cap jump in 2016, Love may do that as well.
His eyes are for James and, to a lesser extent, new teammate Kyrie Irving, more than they are for Cleveland and its fans, coaches and Great Lake.
That puts him in the same boat as the entire Cavs franchise. They all will lean on James and follow his lead. The Cavs trust James -- they have to -- so they gave him the one-year deal. They will do the same with Love, even if it does leave open the door for troubles down the road if this lovely poem doesn't end well.
Let the adventure begin.
---
Examining Love's contract situation
Originally Published: August 27, 2014
By Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com
CLEVELAND -- In one of those classic feel-good news conferences this week, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin welcomed new pickup Kevin Love by saying this was a "long-term relationship." Moments later Love himself, speaking publicly for the first time in months, said he was "committed to this team, committed long term."
Lots of smiles and pictures followed. But if everyone is committed long term then why is Love not signing a contract extension with the Cavs right now?
Like most things in this wing of the NBA, it's complicated. The bottom line, though, is this: the Cavs feel very strongly they will keep Love past this season but there is no plan for him to sign a new deal to guarantee it.
In July when the Cavs and Wolves moved to the verge of a deal, permission was given for the Cavs to meet with Love and owner Dan Gilbert did so. There were words said at that meeting, which the parties will not discuss at this point in time, that gave the Cavs some amount of comfort to finalize what became the biggest trade in franchise history.
Were there handshakes and winks? Maybe. But no one will discuss that because it's technically against the rules to strike such a deal, though these sorts of things take place in the league rather frequently. Either way, Love has no legal obligation past this season and the Cavs have no protection. This is one-year situation as of now and that will likely not change in the short term.
So, yes, the Cavs are accepting what normally would be an unsavory amount of risk. Because of the way his current contract is structured, Love is not.
Here is why.
The raw dollars are the easiest part of this situation to digest. By waiting until next summer to do a new contract, Love can make $2 million more per season going into the future than if he signs now. In total, Love can guarantee himself an additional $70 million by waiting instead of signing now.
That's why not signing with the Cavs now is in the no-brainer zone, regardless of how positive the feelings are at the moment.
There's about to be a whole bunch of numbers presented and it's easy to get confused. Before diving in just know that no agent would advise Love to sign now. And Love has one of the best agents currently working in the game, Jeff Schwartz. There's really not much of a discussion.
Let's attempt to explain this with some depth. If Love wanted to sign with the Cavs today it would have to be an extension of his current contract. The word "extension" is important here because of the way the NBA rules are set up on extensions vs. new contracts.
In 2012, Love signed a four-year, $61 million deal with the Wolves where the last season, the 2016-17 season, was a player option. Love will make $15.7 million this season and his option for next season is $16.7 million.
The Cavs would be quite happy to sign Love to an "extension" at this very moment to start with the 2016-17 season because it would mean he'd have to pick up that player option. An extension, however, could be for just two additional years and $37.3 million through the 2017-18 season under league rules. Doing it this way over the next four seasons, Love would be assured to earn $69 million.
If Love waits until next summer and starts a new contract with the Cavs, he could earn an estimated $76 million over the next four years. If he wanted the maximum years, he could actually sign for up to five years and an estimated $107 million if he wanted to next year.
Summing it up, he signs today and he assures himself $37 million more additional guaranteed dollars. He waits until next summer he can assure himself $107 additional guaranteed millions if he wants.
That's a lot of numbers and a lot of money but no matter all dizzying rules, the natural question to ask is the old adage about a bird in the hand being better than two in the bush. Doesn't Love risk injury and turning down a contract opens the risk Love could get hurt? Not totally.
That player option is like an insurance policy for Love. As Wolves owner Glen Taylor pointed out in a missive aimed at his former star on Minneapolis radio on Tuesday, Love indeed has had injury issues in his career. In the 2012-13 season he only played in 18 games because he broke his hand twice. If something happens this upcoming season that threatens his long-term value, he can just pick up the option and push free agency back to 2016.
That is the heart of the matter, the money. It's the biggest factor but not the only one that would contribute to Love not jumping in the deep end with the Cavs just yet.
The reason Love is in Cleveland now is because LeBron James is there. The Cavs were interested in trading for Love around the draft in June but Love was not willing to say then what he said this week, which is he's committed long term even if just in spirit at the moment. When James signed on, he called Love and the mood changed in an instant. Literally within minutes of James announcing his signing with the Cavs, they spoke on the phone and Love said "I'm in."
James, however, is only signed for one season with the Cavs. Though perhaps no player in recent memory has committed himself more to a team and a community than James did with his announcement, the contract he signed is just for one year with a player option. Just like Love has left on his deal.
Love became enamored playing with James during the 2012 Olympics and the two formed a bond. After six years of never playing with another All-Star in Minnesota and never making the playoffs, Love is extremely interested in joining up with a four-time MVP who is in his prime. If there is something that Love is truly committed to, it's playing alongside James for the foreseeable future. James is in Cleveland so that is where Love wants to be.
So talking about five year contracts or multi-year extensions with Love, who is just 25 years old, may be moot. Living in a new world where he is a teammate with James, Love is thinking that he wants to ensure that window he worked so hard to open stays that way for as long as possible.
Or, as Love said Tuesday: "Everything in my entire life for the last six years had led me up to this opportunity."
So Love may well follow James' lead. If James decides to sign long-term next summer when he can be a free agent, Love will too. If James just signs another one-year deal with an option to try to take advantage of an expected salary-cap jump in 2016, Love may do that as well.
His eyes are for James and, to a lesser extent, new teammate Kyrie Irving, more than they are for Cleveland and its fans, coaches and Great Lake.
That puts him in the same boat as the entire Cavs franchise. They all will lean on James and follow his lead. The Cavs trust James -- they have to -- so they gave him the one-year deal. They will do the same with Love, even if it does leave open the door for troubles down the road if this lovely poem doesn't end well.
Let the adventure begin.
MattyJames
Situational Stopper
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Kevin was on the Mike & Mike show this morning and i happened to catch it on my way to work. Greeny asked him if he had heard the quotes from Taylor and then played it for him. Kevin couldn't have been more mature and respectful, totally taking the high road.
Love mentioned not once but 3 separate times "I'm just looking forward to being a part of my new family".
I haven't been able to stop smiling all morning.
He also explained in more detail the choice to go with number "0". For those who didn't catch it, Basically, he said that his first choice was 42. He had gotten Thurman's permission but didn't want it taken out of the rafters. His second choice was "11" and his third was "7", both also being retired by Ilgauskas and Bingo respectively. That's why he went with "0". It was the very first number he wore in any sport. He wanted to go back to his roots and also wanted a fresh start.
Love mentioned not once but 3 separate times "I'm just looking forward to being a part of my new family".
I haven't been able to stop smiling all morning.
He also explained in more detail the choice to go with number "0". For those who didn't catch it, Basically, he said that his first choice was 42. He had gotten Thurman's permission but didn't want it taken out of the rafters. His second choice was "11" and his third was "7", both also being retired by Ilgauskas and Bingo respectively. That's why he went with "0". It was the very first number he wore in any sport. He wanted to go back to his roots and also wanted a fresh start.
PITCavsFan
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I'm going to leave this here for you all to enjoy:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/times-kevin-love-made-outlet-passes-look-sexy#31eulte
If you're like me, you'll probably need this afterwards:
http://www.wikihow.com/Hide-an-Erection
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/times-kevin-love-made-outlet-passes-look-sexy#31eulte
If you're like me, you'll probably need this afterwards:
http://www.wikihow.com/Hide-an-Erection
Frank Reynolds
Co-Owner Paddy's Pub
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Here's a link to SI's story on Taylor's inaccuracies.
It's a shame SI grabbed Ben Golliver as a new staff member, he's a fantastic reporter, and really a joy to listen to; he really knows what he's talking about. We should have nabbed him for the PD opening!
http://www.si.com/nba/2014/08/27/kevin-love-trade-glen-taylor-minnesota-timberwolves-owner
Speaking of which, now that we've got a whole wagon full of talented all stars, wonder if we'll attract someone better than Chris Fedor as our beat reporter.
It's a shame SI grabbed Ben Golliver as a new staff member, he's a fantastic reporter, and really a joy to listen to; he really knows what he's talking about. We should have nabbed him for the PD opening!
http://www.si.com/nba/2014/08/27/kevin-love-trade-glen-taylor-minnesota-timberwolves-owner
Speaking of which, now that we've got a whole wagon full of talented all stars, wonder if we'll attract someone better than Chris Fedor as our beat reporter.
castor777
Sixth Man
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We certainly need someone great for the PD opening, and it's Frank Reynolds. Seriously man, how are you not applying for that position?! You'd be the best since Windhorst guaranteed!
LuNcHBoX
Killer Crossover
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Let me just say that it really pisses me off how writers will seemingly take minor shots at Cleveland for no gain.
That article would have been no worse had he removed "His eyes are for James and, to a lesser extent, new teammate Kyrie Irving, more than they are for Cleveland and its fans, coaches and Great Lake.".
We understand that Cleveland isn't the nationally recognized most desirable place to live but we don't need to start every good event that happens here with "well, the Browns blew 2 good chances at the superbowl in the 80s and do you remember when the Indians choked the World Series away? lol". I'm not opposed to talking about failure and defeats but on the day that we make the biggest trade in Cavs franchise history ESPN has the nerve to show the drive, fumble, etc then it makes me want to flip a table and punch a baby.
That article would have been no worse had he removed "His eyes are for James and, to a lesser extent, new teammate Kyrie Irving, more than they are for Cleveland and its fans, coaches and Great Lake.".
We understand that Cleveland isn't the nationally recognized most desirable place to live but we don't need to start every good event that happens here with "well, the Browns blew 2 good chances at the superbowl in the 80s and do you remember when the Indians choked the World Series away? lol". I'm not opposed to talking about failure and defeats but on the day that we make the biggest trade in Cavs franchise history ESPN has the nerve to show the drive, fumble, etc then it makes me want to flip a table and punch a baby.
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The truly shocking thing is that we finally found something that Ryan Hollins is actually good at.
shoes22
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The worst part is it was written by Windhorst...you know, that guy who was the Cavs beat reporter for the Plain Dealer from '05-10...
Although what he said is true, and a fair point.
Frank Stallone
You guessed it...
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Griffin is on SVP at 2:30ET
pr26
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I'll be in a meeting, so any type of recap would be greatly appreciated.
Frank Stallone
You guessed it...
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I'll do my best to quote it - I'm at work. But I'll grab what I can!
iamacavalier
In the Rotation
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Here is a question. Who will be Loves "Corey brewer" for outlet passes this year? Corey Brewer was probably the 4th or 5th best player on that team. But he was almost always Loves target for outlet passes because of his speed and his connection with Love. I'm sure Lebron will be a fair amount but I don't see Lebron leaking out like Brewer does on every play. Waiters? Marion? maybe it is Lebron. I don't know so many options!