Kevin Love’s time with the Cleveland Cavaliers could be nearing its end.
Love and the team are finalizing a contract buyout, according to a report by The Athletic. If Love and the Cavs do end up parting ways, the Miami Heat, who currently hold the No. 7 seed in the East, could be a favorite to land Love’s services.
Love is the last remaining member of the 2016 championship team. He has spent parts of nine seasons with the Cavs, joining Cleveland shortly after LeBron James returned. Love was an All-Star with the Cavs in 2017 and 2018.
This season, though, Love averaged 20 minutes per game — the lowest total in any of his 15 NBA seasons — before falling out of the rotation entirely a couple of weeks ago.
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Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said last week that he didn’t anticipate a buyout with Love. The Cavs made the Danny Green addition official on Wednesday, and Love had already fallen out of the 9-man rotation used by Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff prior to Green’s signing.
Love is the final year of a four-year, $120 million extension he signed shortly after James left for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.
