Kevin Love pens piece saying he’s staying in Cleveland

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the summer with a laundry list of their players hitting free agency. Assuming James never bolts from Cleveland again, their top four players will be under contract through at least 2019. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. The duo’s new deals combined for about $190 million (Love for $110 million, Thompson for $80 million), and later in the day, guard Iman Shumpert agreed to a four-year, million contract, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.

The move could make sense, because of his connection to California.

The Cavs still have to sign James for roughly $22 million, they have two more free agents in J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova and have Brendan Haywood’s non-guaranteed contract worth $10.5 million.

Next season will be Pierce’s 18th, the first 15 with Boston. We’re all on the same page and we’re all in.

Love made the announcement through a short personal essay entitled “Unfinished Business” on The Players’ Tribune, citing his experience watching the Cavaliers compete in the National Basteball Association Finals from the bench while injured as motivation to stay. Add it all up, and Gilbert will pay three players a collective amount of $280 million over the next five years. His new deal will start in excess of $19 million. Though he was fighting through groin and shoulder injuries near the end of the postseason, he proved just how much of an impact he could provide when he was healthy. Why would he want to play alongside a superstar who back in February took the circuitous route of calling him out on social media about his attitude rather than walk across the locker room to tell him? What’s interesting about that is how it effects the Cavaliers, as Thompson might see that deal and either set $85 million as the baseline for a deal or ask for more than that. During the playoffs those numbers improved to 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. James’ one-year deals are both a way to make more money and keep pressure on the Cavs to stay committed to building a victor. His point and rebound averages were well above his regular-season production between his 62 games with the Cavaliers and Knicks.

Atlanta free agent DeMarre Carroll announced via social media that he will play for Toronto. As a free agent, he is open, and there is some issues with his contract with the Miami Heat.

While it was expected Shumpert and Thompson would at least be back on a qualifying offers, many rumors were still surfacing regarding Love’s supposed desire to play elsewhere.