Love opts out of contract with Cavaliers

Kevin Love is about to find out how much the league values him, and how much the Cleveland Cavaliers want him.

The power forward opted out of the f inal year of his contract and will be a free agent July 1, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press. Love has a deal worth $ 16.7 million next season.

Last week, General Manager David Griffin said he expected Love and LeBron James to opt out of their deals and become free agents. Griffin also expects them to re- sign with the Cavaliers, who made it to the NBA Finals this season before losing to Golden State.

The 26- year- old Love, who came to Cleveland last summer in a blockbuster trade from Minnesota, has said he wants to return to the Cavaliers. Cleveland played without Love for most of the play- offs after he suffered a left shoulder injury in the f irst round against Boston.

Guard Monta Ellis is declining the player option for the f inal year of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks and will become an unrestricted free agent. Ellis was set to make $ 8.7 million in the final year of a three- year, $ 25 million contract.

The Charlotte Hornets have traded guard Gerald Henderson and power forward Noah Vonleh to Portland for small forward Nicolas Batum. The 6- foot- 8 Batum started 71 games in 2014- 15, averaging 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists. ... The Orlando Magic traded veteran point guard Luke Ridnour to the Memphis Grizzlies for the draft rights to 6- foot- 7 Latvian swingman Janis Timma. Timma, who will turn 23 on July 2, was the 60th pick in the 2013 NBA draft. ... The NBA has unanimously ap- proved the sale of the Atlanta Hawks to an ownership group led by billionaire Tony Ressler. Along with the operating rights to Philips Arena, the Hawks were sold for $ 850 million.