Kevin Love staying with the Miami Heat after Finals run: NBA Free Agency 2023
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Things will look a bit different for the Miami Heat next season after their run to the NBA Finals. On thing that is certain, however, is that Kevin Love is not going anywhere.
According to The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds the former Minnesota Timberwolf and Cleveland Cavalier signed a two-year, deal with the Heat, which are signing him using their non-Bird rights to re-sign him. That will result in a $3.7 million cap hit for next season, the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang tweets.
Love was big for the Heat in spurts during the playoffs, though his numbers with the Heat don’t necessarily paint the full picture of his contributions. In 20 postseason games, and 18 starts, with Miami, Love put up 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per night pin 17 minutes . His 3-point shooting, which was at 37.5% last season improved significantly after he struggled shooting the rock in his final days in Cleveland.
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After being traded for 2014 No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, Love had a major role in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ success while playing alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. When James left for Los Angeles Love’s role in Cleveland began to change. Instead of being the All-Star sharpshooting stretch 4 he had been he evolved into a wily vet who helped mentor young players like Colin Sexton, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
Last season Love showed he still had some left in the tank, but upon Dean Wade’s return from injury, minutes in J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation were much more difficult to come by.
The five-time All-Star got bought out of his remaining Cavs’ contract, after several DNP-CDs, and went to Miami, earning a starting role en route their Finals run. After not being able to sniff the playoffs in Minnesota, and sitting through some ugly post ‘Big 3′ years in Cleveland, Love kept alive his streak of making the NBA Finals every time he reached the postseason.
Miami, famed for the culture they have developed under team president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra, is also bringing back Josh Richardson, who they drafted in 2015. He and No. 18 pick Jaime Jaquez out of UCLA will both be key for the Heat in the wake of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus heading out of town.
The Heat still have Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Haywood Highsmith, Nikola Jovic, Caleb Martin and Duncan Robinson under contract, so their roster for next season is nearly set. They’re preparing to take the East by storm yet again as they seek their third trip to the NBA Finals in five years.
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