Heat forward Kevin Love is turning down his player option for next season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Love will become an unrestricted free agent as a result of declining that $4MM option.
Even though Love is declining his option, the two sides are enthusiastic about reaching a new deal in the opening days of free agency, Wojnarowski reports. Love has spent the past season and a half with the Heat after being bought out by the Cavaliers ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.
Love has been one of the more underrated buyout pickups of the last few years, immediately settling into a veteran leader role while averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 76 games with the Heat (22 starts). He was also a big part of Miami’s run to the NBA Finals in 2022/23, averaging 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 37.5% from deep (4.4 attempts) in 20 postseason appearances.
Love, 35, is a five-time NBA All-Star and former champion with the Cavaliers in ’15/16. He has played 929 games (684 starts) while holding career averages of 16.5 points and 10.1 rebounds. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Love has a 73.47% chance to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
According to the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, one option could be for Love to re-sign with the Heat at his minimum of about $3.3MM with an additional year attached (Twitter link). That would give the team some extra wiggle room under the second apron to keep some of its own free agents.
Heading to LA to rejoin Bron & son?
Did you even read the article?
Yes we all read the article. Love is a free agent. Unrestricted too.
BronGM should be on the phone right now. He’s perfect there. It’s where he played his college ball. I’d say he’d love to end it there. On a run with Bron.
He’s rejoining Heat on a new deal
Lakers woukd be a good place for him. 2 year 7 mil players option for year two from the Heat
I really hope he stays with the Heat, and plays at least another 2, maybe 3 years, and lineup with Jimmy, and as a compliment to Bam; Kyle would have been included in that. He was amazing this year for the Heat, and a 6MotY contender, if he had 10 more games. My offseason target list is partially on the assumption, and hope, he stays with the Heat
Even though he has options it looks like he probably will stay with the heat. They’re “enthusiastic” about reaching a new deal.
He said a lot of things at the end of the year that would surprise me if he isn’t back
There’s something to be said about being happy where you’re playing.
Heat as they are can’t afford to lose Love. But at the minimum. I think he gets more in FA.
He just doesnt have fire anymore. He should retire and take care of his mental health.
“I’ve never been happier as a player than I have been here in Miami” – Kevin Love lol
Wasn’t he unplayable in the playoffs? This is kind of surprising.
What wouldn’t surprise me is if Pat Reilly is cursed and the only way he can stay alive is by keeping the spirit of an old player on his bench. Careful Kevin…
…And ke’lel ware would have played vs Boston?
Heat would’ve stood a chance vs the nugs if they had just let klove clamp down Aaron Gordon like he did in g2