Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love
Nov 10, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Reuters

Cleveland Cavaliers starting power forward Kevin Love is postponing the execution of a long-term deal with his current club, the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 2016 free agency in mind. The year 2016 is the projected time when the new television deal will kick in and in effect, pull up the salary cap.

"Love is unlikely to sign long term this summer because of the salary cap. He is expected to opt out of his current contract at the end of the season for cap purposes, but he might only sign a one-year deal to line up for what is expected to be a significant cap spike in the summer of 2016," Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Love, who is set to become a free agent this summer, has the option to ink a one-year deal that will make him a free agent anew in 2016, when a new salary cap kicks in. A one-year deal could be a risky move given that a freak injury during the season can dash his hopes of getting a bigger maximum contract. Nevertheless, the appeal of bigger deal and the current struggles of the team have thrown off the projectile of the former Minnesota Timberwolves player's plans in free agency.

The team has dropped down to 0.500 (19-19) after suffering yet another blowout to the Sacramento Kings Monday, 103-84. Coach David Blatt inserted newly acquired centre Timofey Mozgov into the starting line-up but the change did not much to cure a lot of the Cavaliers' problems. The team is alos integrating former New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith who has had two abysmal outings with his new team and is still awaiting the return of Iman Shumpert from injury. The heaviest omission from the team is still Lebron James who has been out since December to treat various injuries with his knee and back. The four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) is reportedly set to come back Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

Love has been doing his share in James' absence but the production has not been translating to wins. The former fifth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft is currently averaging 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds but is just shooting 43 percent from the field, his lowest since his rookie season.

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