Kevin Love Reportedly Makes Decision On Miami Heat Contract

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Kevin Love will decline his player option with the Miami Heat.

Jun 6, 2018; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Kevin Love (0) speaks to the media after game three of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE: According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Kevin Love is re-signing with Miami.

Free agent F/C Kevin Love is finalizing a two-year, $8 million-plus deal to return to the Miami Heat, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/uUFBaErvb8

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2024

Kevin Love is coming off his second year playing for the Miami Heat.

The former UCLA star finished the season with averages of 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest while shooting 44.0% from the field and 34.4% from the three-point range in 55 games.

On Saturday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Love will decline the player option in his contract and become a free agent.

Via Wojnarowski: "ESPN Sources: Miami Heat F/C Kevin Love is declining his $4M player option, but both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal in the opening days of free agency. The five-time All-Star has played the past two seasons with the Heat."

ESPN Sources: Miami Heat F/C Kevin Love is declining his $4M player option, but both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal in the opening days of free agency. The five-time All-Star has played the past two seasons with the Heat. pic.twitter.com/uXU3bR8xPP

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2024

Based on Wojnarowski's reporting, it sounds like Love will likely end up back in Miami.

Apr 24, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Heat forward Kevin Love (42) signs an autograph before warming up before game two of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Love was initially the fifth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and has played 16 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves (in addition to Miami).

He has career averages of 16.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest while shooting 43.9% from the field and 36.9% from the three-point range in 929 regular season games.

Kevin Love is declining his $4M player option with the Miami Heat

Both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal in the opening days of free agency, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/cyX7EXjePP

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 29, 2024

The 2016 NBA Champion has also appeared in 88 playoff games (80 starts).

He has been to the Finals five times in his career.

Apr 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Heat forward Kevin Love (42) passes the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

As for the Heat, they finished the 2023-24 season as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 46-36 record.

They lost to Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs (in five games).

Apr 14, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Kevin Love (42) warms-up up before the start of the game against the Toronto Raptors at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports / Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports