The Cleveland Cavaliers will surely have at least one member of their roster back for next season as three-time NBA All-Star and versatile power forward Kevin Love said to the media Sunday that he plans to stay with the team.
"I truly haven't even thought about it, but as I mentioned, I expect to be suiting up by Game 1 of next year," Love said according to the Associated Press.
According to the report, a reporter asked if it is with the Cavaliers and Love answered, "Yes sir."
Love has a player option in his pact with Cleveland and can opt out but already said before that he is going nowhere.
Love's future destination has been a favorite topic with the offseason fast approaching as he is also being connected to a number of teams.
"Anybody that has pending free agency coming up in the summer, I feel like that's going to happen no matter who it is," Love stated according to Cleveland.com.
The 26-year-old came to Cleveland through trade to fulfil his goal of competing in the playoffs, a feat he failed to achieve in his first six years in the league with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Cavaliers struggled early in the regular season but was able to find their groove sooner and would finish with the second best record in the Eastern Conference at 53-29.
In the first round of the playoffs, Cleveland swept the Boston Celtics to advance into the second round.
Despite the success, it was an unfortunate moment for Love who was injured in the final game of that series after sustaining a left shoulder injury as he got entangled with Celtics center Kelly Olynyk.
But according to Love he reached out to Olynyk a week after the incident telling him everything is okay already and it is time to move forward, The Guardian reported.
The Cavaliers will be hosted by the Golden State Warriors for Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday and Love hopes he could join the team.
"I had really wanted this, wanted to be a part of this run, and then that fourth game in the first series, got hurt on a tough play. So, it's something that I look at as an opportunity," he said according to the Associated Press.
Love also said that he will continue to work hard to play in their opener next season and added, "I'm super happy for these guys, proud of these guys."
