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Kevin Love was set on re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers as free agency began on July 1st, 2015.

"A lot of teams called, but I've never really even considered," Love said. "I've been saying it the whole time, that time when you become a free agent, there's something to be said for, 'Man, I can go wherever I want, live wherever I want, be close to my family if I want.' But this was a situation where the first year is always the hardest.

"I knew that we were going to be able to compete for a championship every single year. I had met with LeBron [James] directly after that, just picked his brain. Asked him what he thought about where we were going in the future. You know 12:01 a.m. on July 1 came around and [Cavaliers' General manager David] Griffin and I were on the phone and I signed on the ninth."

Love didn't grant other teams even a phone conversation.

"Truth be told, I didn't even talk them really," he said. "Teams have reached out to my agent, but as far as getting on the phone with anybody, the only person I got on the phone with was Griff right when he called me at 12:01. That's what people don't understand that when I say that it was really done, it was really done."

Love said there wasn't another situation where he could have as high of a chance of winning as Cleveland.

"The thought had crossed my mind, but there was no situation that was going to allow me to win basketball games like this one, " Love said. "Yeah, I could have gone places and averaged 30 or 25 [points] and 15 [rebounds] or whatever it might have been, but coming here I would still be able to play my game. I knew in season two things would be better. And I think a lot can be said for how well this team gets along and how close we all are."

Via Chris Haynes/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Respect for staying true to his word. He's in shape this year and looks set to contribute to another deep run.

Good on the guy.

McKenna wrote:Respect for staying true to his word. He's in shape this year and looks set to contribute to another deep run.

Good on the guy.

Yea truly respectable.

Those other teams are glad you didnt now

. . . probably because they texted him. lol

Mick

Just shows how foolish the members of the media who kept insisting he was walking or that the Cavs wouldn't be able to keep both Love and Thompson were; but I'm sure they had their multiple "sauces".

Kevin said from early on that he wasn't going anywhere, but honesty just isn't good enough for some.

JonFromVA wrote:Just shows how foolish the members of the media who kept insisting he was walking or that the Cavs wouldn't be able to keep both Love and Thompson were; but I'm sure they had their multiple "sauces".

Kevin said from early on that he wasn't going anywhere, but honesty just isn't good enough for some.

The fact he said he would do something and then that something happening doesn't mean it was necessarily his intention all the way. Do you think he didn't consider leaving Cleveland? Sure he did, he even hints that in these quotes. Just he said he'd stay all the time prior to free agency because that's what you're supposed to do being traded with one year left in your contract.

Deivork wrote:

JonFromVA wrote:Just shows how foolish the members of the media who kept insisting he was walking or that the Cavs wouldn't be able to keep both Love and Thompson were; but I'm sure they had their multiple "sauces".

Kevin said from early on that he wasn't going anywhere, but honesty just isn't good enough for some.

The fact he said he would do something and then that something happening doesn't mean it was necessarily his intention all the way. Do you think he didn't consider leaving Cleveland? Sure he did, he even hints that in these quotes. Just he said he'd stay all the time prior to free agency because that's what you're supposed to do being traded with one year left in your contract.

Nah, most players are a lot more elusive in what they say, some even saying stuff like "I'm not focused on that now. I'll consider my options after the season is over.". LeBron for instance was a lot more elusive in 2010 and 2015 and when he seemingly would hint that he was going to stay in 2010, he'd come out the next day and shoot the thought down (nah, I was just talking about my love for Akron, etc).

Of course Kevin can't speak for what the Cavs might do, but if you go back and read his quotes, they were not wishy-washy in the least.

JonFromVA wrote:Of course Kevin can't speak for what the Cavs might do, but if you go back and read his quotes, they were not wishy-washy in the least.

He was straight up from start to finish. He should get credit for being classy in a typically classless aspect of the game.