CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Cavaliers notebook after

1. I talked to several NBA people who are familiar with the Cavaliers (and don't work for them), and virtually all of them said the team was smart to sign Kevin Love to an extension that means his contract is now $145 million for five years.

2. All of them mentioned how it's hard to attract free agents to Cleveland. Or as one executive said to me, "Let's make that free agents who didn't grow up in Akron," meaning LeBron James. While James has played more games than any player in franchise history and spent 11-of-15 seasons here, he also has left twice.

3. Odds are the contract won't look great in a few years, although rising salaries will probably make Love still worthy of playing a significant role for a contending team. He signed for $29 million in the final season (2022-23) of the contract. This helped the Cavs do the deal.

4. It's true $29 million sounds like a lot in the inflated world of the NBA. But here are some players who signed extensions in the last few years and what they will be guaranteed in their final seasons: Chris Paul ($44 million), John Wall ($47 million), Russell Westbrook ($40 million), Blake Griffin ($37 million), Paul George ($35 million), Kyle Lowry ($33 million), Steven Adams ($27 million).

5. It's a gamble signing Love. He gets hurt. In his last two seasons with the Cavs, he's missed a total of 45 games. He's had surgery last season to repair a fractured hand. He had minor knee surgery in 2016. He also has had at least two serious concussions in his time with the Cavs. He was hurt in the 2015 playoffs and had major shoulder surgery.

6. I'm sure his injury history is part of the reason Love was anxious to sign a long-term extension now rather than wait until next summer -- when he could use a player option to become an unrestricted free agent.

the Koby Altman front office has created a comfort zone for Love. He wanted to stay here, and you can be sure Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert loved to hear that.

7. The Cavs have extended Rodney Hood a $3.4 million qualifying offer for 2018-19. I'm told they are interested in signing the restricted free agent to a 3-year contract. My guess is it will be relatively modest, especially compared to what he hoped to receive when he came to the Cavs in February in a trade with Utah.

8. It's possible Hood can sign the qualifying offer for one season, then gamble on having a good year in 2018-19. He is a player who could benefit from James leaving -- as more shots are available. Then he can take a good year into unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019.

9. If the Cavs find an attractive offer for George Hill, I'm sure they'll trade him. I doubt they'll find anyone to take on his $19 million contract. The Cavs are OK with that. They believe he can take some of the pressure off Collin Sexton, so the rookie point guard doesn't have to immediately start.

10. In 2016-17, Hill and Hood sometimes started together in the backcourt for Utah. That season, Hill averaged 17 points and shot .477 from the field (.403 on 3-pointers). Hood averaged 12.7 points, shooting .408 (.371 on 3-pointers) from the field. The Cavs could start them together.

11. That would bring Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver and Sexton -- perhaps playing three guards -- together off the bench. That could be interesting. Put Larry Nance Jr. with that group. Lots of energy.

12. Where does that leave J.R. Smith? I'm sure the Cavs would love to trade him, but who wants his $14.7 million contract? He'll be 33 by opening night. His last two seasons have been the worst of his career. He's in decline. I don't know how he fits with this team.

13. Korver is 37 years old. From the moment James left for the Lakers, I was convinced the Cavs are trying to trade him. That's probably still true. But they consider Korver, Channing Frye, Love and Hill as veterans who can set good examples for younger players in terms of attitude and work ethic.

14. Nance is a free agent in the summer of 2019. I'm told the Cavs will work hard to sign him to a contract extension long before that. They love the Revere High product.

15. Very curious to see if the Cavs open with Cedi Osman at small forward. Someone has to play the position with James gone. The hustling Osman is 6-foot-8 and loves to defend. The Cavs could play Hood or Korver there in some type of 3-guard lineups.