Cavs plan to build around Love if James leaves

Kevin Love talks with Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 8. Love, who has two years left on a five-year contract, has been the subject of trade rumors.

at it as that,” Altman said June 21. “Obviously when we made the trade, we were making it to draft the pick. We listened to a lot of different opportunities during the year. Nothing came to the level of franchisechanger that we thought was going to help us get back to the Finals and into the future.

Nothing was available that we felt was like, ‘OK, we have to do it.’

“Now could we have traded it and gotten a veteran who could’ve helped us? Maybe. We’re way more excited about the fact that we held on to it, what we did at the deadline, what those acquisitions did in the playoffs and how much they grew. Now putting this all together in a training camp and having some continuity moving forward, what that’s going to do for our franchise. I think it’s really going to help our momentum.”

Love, 29, has two years remaining on the five-year, $113 million contract he signed in July 2015. He carries a $24.1 million salary for 2018-19 and a player option worth $25.5 million in 2019-20. He has averaged 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds during his 10-year career, 19.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in his first six years with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Cavs are reportedly interested in re-signing forward Jeff Green, 31, who played last season on a oneyear veteran minimum deal worth $2.3 million.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Cavs and Philadelphia 76ers are considered the front-runners for James, who declined his contract option of $35.6 million for next season to become a free agent.

The Cavs won 19, 21, 24 and 33 games during the four seasons after James left for the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010.