The Heat may be able to attract Kevin Love by offering a starting role, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. News broke late Wednesday night that Love is involved in buyout talks with the Cavaliers, and Miami was mentioned as a possible destination for the 34-year-old big man, who was recently removed from the rotation in Cleveland.
Caleb Martin currently serves as the Heat’s starting power forward, but at 6’5″ it’s not his natural position. Love could bring more size, better rebounding and improved passing to the starting lineup if he can be convinced to sign with Miami. Winderman notes that the addition of Love would also reduce the urgency to give a standard contract to Orlando Robinson, who is nearing the end of his eligibility on his two-way deal.
The Heat have their full $4MM+ bi-annual exception available, as well as $3MM+ on their mid-level exception, which gives them an advantage in the buyout market over teams that are limited to minimum-salary offers. Miami has also been linked to players such as Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley, but Winderman hears that the front office is prioritizing front-line help over a guard, making Love or Serge Ibaka a more likely target (Twitter link).
There’s more from Miami:
- Duncan Robinson was able to return Wednesday after finger surgery in January sidelined him for the past 20 games, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Robinson, who still feels discomfort in his finger, was originally expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, but he played Wednesday because the team has so many other injured players. “That was one of the things that I knew when I elected to do the procedure is that there was going to be pain,” Robinson said. “But it’s significantly less than it was before and it functions better than it did before.”
- The Heat will welcome the All-Star break to heal up from their injuries, Chiang adds. Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Kyle Lowry, Victor Oladipo and Omer Yurtseven were all unavailable Wednesday, and Miami ranks second in the league with 235 missed games. All five players are expected back at varying points after the break ends. “The biggest thing for us is we’re glad everybody will get fresh legs,” Martin said. “We’ve been down a lot of guys most of the season, so it will be good to get everybody fresh from the jump.”
- Herro is considered day-to-day with a left knee contusion, but he’s still expected to participate in the three-point contest at All-Star Weekend, according to Chiang.
Biggest note on the Heat should be about how Mikal just absolutely destroyed Jimmy B last night. Twin got his share too but majority of that work was given to Jimmy & I am 100% certain that he’s gonna remember that if these teams meet in the postseason… link to m.youtube.com
Ya I figured the Nets would win. The Heat matchup with them was better before they made the trades they made. Now I dont like it. They have all those guys on the wing/4, and that is going to make it really difficult for the Heat being shorthanded there, not using guys, and still needing another piece
Give me a break. Might be a nice video on the jumbotron but Kevin Love isn’t moving any needles.
Sorry Heat fans, not your year.
Neither Love nor Caleb should start, although having Love off the bench might actually make holding Herro as a starter, as they’ve insisted on doing, doable
Milwaukee, Phoenix, Clippers, Denver.
Sacramento…
Lmao! Sacramento sprinted through the first part of the season but are on weary legs now, watch them fall into play-in once the rest of the west makes their playoff push, I’ll even bet they miss the playoffs once again.
Love can help Heat. Just by adding depth n experience. But I don’t get why he wants to leave. When he could have a nice run with Cavs.
Lakers should go for Love.