Cavs’ Love opts out of contract to become free agent

DPA/Los Angeles Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love decided Wednesday to opt out of the final year of his 16.7-million-dollar contract next season and become a free agent. The expected move was first reported by ESPN, which said Cleveland would attempt to re-sign Love, who suffered a season-ending dislocated left shoulder in the first-round of the playoffs and watched the Cavs lose the NBA finals in six games to the Golden State Warriors. Cleveland general manager David Geffin believes the Cavs are the front-runner to re-sign Love, who could ink a potential five-year, 100-million dollar extension. Other teams can only offer a four-year max deal unless a sign-and-trade is agreed upon. Should the former All-Star forward not want to go long-term, he can sign a one-and-one year deal with a player option - much like teammate LeBron James did last summer - for the 2016-17 season when the salary cap is expected to rise at least 30 per cent. Love averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 75 games this season for Cleveland, which traded away the top pick in the 2014 NBA draft and eventual rookie of the year Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota as part of a three-team deal with Philadelphia last summer to acquire Love. The LA Lakers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are expected to make a run at Love once free agency begins on July 1. Add the Portland Trail Blazers to the mix, should All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge also opt for free agency. Hornets acquire Batum from Blazers The Charlotte Hornets acquired small forward Nicolas Batum from the Portland Trail Blazers late Wednesday in exchange for guard Gerald Henderson and backup power forward Noah Vonleh. “Nicolas Batum is a very talented player whose all-around game will help our team in a variety of ways,” said Hornets General Manager Rich Cho. “He is a quality defender and a solid outside shooter who brings versatility and playoff experience. We are excited to add him to our wing rotation.” In his seventh campaign with Portland, Batum averaged 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while battling nagging injuries. The Frenchman is a 36 per cent career 3-point shooter and the Hornets are in desperate need of an outside marksman after knocking down a league-worst 31.8 per cent from behind the arc last season. “Nic Batum was a key contributor to all of our recent success,” Trail Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Oshay said. “He will truly be missed as a person and a player.”  Portland, meanwhile, picked up Henderson, who averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in his sixth NBA season. The 19-year-old Vonleh was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft but averaged just 3.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 25 games last season.