National Basketball Association

Report: Cavs' Kevin Love plans to stay in Cleveland next year

Published Jan. 13, 2015 3:39 p.m. ET

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Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is not planning to use his player option to opt out of his contract and will remain in Cleveland at least through next season, according to a report from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

The Cavs have started the season at a disappointing 19-19 record, leading to speculation that Love might decide to test free agency for the first time in his career. But he stressed he still plans to commit to the Cavs next season.

"I think that we will figure it out here, so I don't plan on opting out or any of that," Love said, according to the report. "I plan on being here. As far as leaving my options open, I mean sure, it's always there. At the end of the day, it's always good to have something but no, I plan on being here."

The Cavaliers acquired Love from the Timberwolves in a three-team trade before this season began, giving up No. 1 overall picks Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett. At the time of the trade, Love stressed that he planned to commit to Cleveland for the long haul.

However, that original commitment came when the Cavs — featuring a trio of All-Stars in Love, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving — were considered the favorites in the Eastern Conference and a leading championship contender. The Cavs now sit sixth in the East, 10.5 games behind the Hawks.

Cleveland has suffered through a rash of injuries, with James and Irving both missing time and starter Anderson Varejao out for the season. To address their depleted depth and struggling defense, the Cavs executed two trades last week, bringing in center Timofey Mozgov and wings Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith.

With injuries mounting and starting lineups constantly changing, the Cavs have lost eight of their last nine games, which included a loss to the 76ers and blowouts at the hands of the Pistons and Kings.

"We'll eventually figure it out," Love said. "I think for the whole team, it's not what we expected, but I think once we get back to a full lineup things will be different."

Love has become a focal point of criticism as the team's struggles have continued, particularly for his defense. He told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer he is a "homebody" and has been slow to acclimate himself to his new surroundings, but stressed that he's trying to improve both on and off the court.

"I pride myself my entire career on being efficient, so I'm going to look to be more efficient in the second half of the season for my team," Love said.