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Forgotten Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love ‘is finalizing a buyout in Cleveland and could move on to the Miami Heat’ after getting benched
Kevin Love could be taking his talents to South Beach.
The Cavaliers power forward is reportedly finalizing a buyout with the team after nine seasons and one NBA title in Cleveland, and according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Miami Heart are expected to pursue the five-time All-Star.
Love has recently fallen out of coach J. B. Bickerstaff’s rotation for the fourth-place Cavaliers (38-23), despite a dearth of post players on Cleveland’s bench. Dean Wade, who stands 6-foot-9 and is typically used on the perimeter on offense, is Bickerstaff’s main reserve forward, and the team doesn’t have a true backup center.
Love’s agent did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
The 34-year-old power forward has not played since a January 24 loss to the New York Knicks. For the year, Love, is averaging a career-low 8.5 points a game.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love, foreground, controls the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns on January 8
Despite his decreased playing time in 2022-23, Love remains a reliable perimeter shooter, making 35.4 percent from deep this season and 37.2 percent for his career.
He was acquired from Minnesota in an offseason trade in 2014 before helping the LeBron James-led Cavaliers win the first title in team history in 2016.
Love could now follow in James’ footsteps from Cleveland to Miami, where the Heat are in desperate need of bench scoring. Coach Erik Spoelstra’s reserves are averaging just 26.9 points a game – the second fewest in the NBA this season.
The Heat are particularly thin at center and power forward.
It’s not currently known if other teams are showing interest in Love, a former fifth-overall draft pick who starred at UCLA in 2007 and 2008.
