Miami is expected to be a “suitor” for the former five-time All-Star.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and forward Kevin Love are in the process of finalizing a buyout agreement, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Wednesday evening. According to Charania, the Miami Heat, who have two open roster spots, are expected to have interest for the five-time All-Star.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Love are finalizing a contract buyout, with the Miami Heat expected to emerge as a suitor for the five-time All-Star should the sides finalize parting ways, league sources tell The Athletic,” Charania wrote.
“The Heat have an open roster spot and have canvassed the market recently for a big man, sources said. Miami could offer Love a reserve role with ample minutes behind All-Star Bam Adebayo. Miami is seventh in the East at 32-27, but only a half-game behind the sixth-place Knicks and 2 1/2 games behind the Nets.”
Love was in the final season of a four-year, $120 million with the Cavs this season. The 34-year-old is averaging 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds, shooting 38.5 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from the 3-point line and 88.9 percent from the free-throw line.
While he’s still played 41 of Cleveland’s 61 games this season, he has not played since Jan. 24, racking up nine consecutive DNP-CD’s. Love’s been behind Dean Wade and Cedi Osman in Cleveland’s loaded frontcourt rotation of late. He’s been apart of the Cavs since 2014-15 — LeBron James’ first season back for his second Cleveland stint — when he was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal for then-No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins.
The Heat could desperately use an experienced backup big behind Bam Adebayo — especially a stretch-five. Miami flipped Dewayne Dedmon — who was having a terrible season — to the San Antonio Spurs (with a second-round pick) for extra luxury tax space ahead of the trade deadline. But the front office elected to stand Pat (pun intended) for any other subsequent transactions.
Miami’s only playable backup big right now is Orlando Robinson, who’s currently on a two-way contract and not playoff eligible. Omer Yurtseven is still recovering from an ankle injury and isn’t expected to return until after the All-Star break.
Since it dealt Dedmon on Feb. 7, two days before the deadline trade deadline, by rule, it must add a 14th player by Feb. 21. That could include converting Robinson (or Jamal Cain) to a standard contract or signing Love (or another buyout candidate) to its roster.
A benefit the Heat have in the buyout market is they have both their bi-annual (~$4.11 million) and the remainder of their mid-level exception (~4.01M) to use — while staying below the tax — if they don’t want to sign a buyout player to the minimum.
Assuming Love finalizes a buyout and agrees to a minimum deal with the Heat on Thursday, his cap-hit would prorate to roughly $549K instead of $1.8M, maintaining their flexibility to use their BAE/MLE, while also staying below the tax, if they want to sign another buyout player for that amount. His prorated salary in that same hypothetical decreases to approximately $496K if he signed on Feb. 21.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.