Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love, speaking to the media for the first time since having season-ending surgery on his shoulder, expects to be back in Cleveland at the start of next season
“I truly haven’t even thought about it, but as I mentioned, I expect to be suiting up for Game 1 (of next season),” Love said.
When asked by a reporter if it would be for the Cavaliers, Love responded, “Yes, sir.”
Love said he is “happy with how things are progressing” in his rehab.
Love, who is in his first season with LeBron James and the Cavaliers after an offseason trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, has a player option for the 2015-16 season and could decide to opt out by June 30 to become a free agent.
Love has one year remaining on his contract that would pay him $16.7 million for next season. He could either negotiate a new deal with Cleveland, which could offer him a five-year contract, or test the market as an unrestricted free agent, where the most he could get is a four-year deal per the terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Love was playing in his first-ever playoff series when he dislocated his shoulder in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Boston Celtics on April 26. Boston forward Kelly Olynyk pulled down on Love’s left arm and yanked it out of the socket.
The Cavs have gone 8-2 since Love went out, beating the Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals before sweeping the Atlanta Hawks to earn the franchise’s first trip to the NBA Finals since 2007.
The Cavs face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night to start the best-of-seven series. Love will join his teammates for Games 1 and 2 at Oracle Arena in Oakland but will not play in the series.
“Obviously I’d rather be out there playing, and that is, as a human being, from a human being aspect, is very tough,” Love said. “But as far as being here and supporting the guys and now being able to travel, it’s a lot of fun, and I still feel like I’m a big part of this.”