It appears to be the end of an era. The Cavaliers and Kevin Love are reportedly finalizing a contract buyout, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jason Lloyd.
The Miami Heat are expected to be the landing spot for the 34-year-old forward.
Love spent nine seasons in Cleveland. After being acquired in a three-team trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014, Love was an immediate contributor. He averaged at least 16 points and nine rebounds per game over his first six seasons.
During the 2016 Cavaliers NBA Championship, Love was essential. In the pivotal Game 7, Love grabbed 14 rebounds and had the best plus-minus of any Cavalier in that game.
Love ranks number two in Cavs history in three-pointers made behind Lebron James, ninth in all-time scoring, and sixth in rebounds.
In his last couple of seasons, Love reinvented himself being a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year in 2021, after posting 13 points per game and just over seven rebounds.
Over the last couple of weeks, Love was rumored to be traded or bought out. After the NBA Trade Deadline on February 9th, Koby Altman President of Basketball Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers addressed those rumors.
“Not one time since I've been here have they approached me about it,” said Altman “We’re asking Kevin to do what he’s doing right now… Be a great teammate, stay positive, and be ready for when that opportunity comes next.”
Love was a quintessential member of the community during his time in Cleveland. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic Love donated $100,000 dollars to workers at Rocket Mortgage Field House and on April 26, 2020, The Kevin Love Fund sent a truckload of lunches to the staff of the Cleveland Clinic's Medical Intensive Care Unit.
For this season Love is earning $28.9 million dollars, in the final year of a four-year, $120 million dollar deal.