Kevin Love announces he will return to Cavaliers

Free-agent forward Kevin Love announced in The Players' Tribune on Wednesday that he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Free-agent forward Kevin Loveannounced in The Players' Tribune on Wednesday that he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that Love will accept a five-year, $110 million contract extension with the Cavaliers. 

Love recently opted out of his contract with Cleveland, but was considered likely to re-sign. In opting out, he turned down a player option worth $16.7 million for next season.

The 26-year-old injured his shoulder during the Cavaliers' first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics and missed the rest of the postseason. Cleveland went on to reach the NBA Finals, where it fell to the Golden State Warriors.

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From Love's announcement:

After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, that’s when it really struck me. Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one. I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win. I couldn’t have been prouder of them as they poured their blood, sweat and tears onto the court.

Love told ESPN something similar after Game 1 of the Finals, saying watching the game affirmed his desire to return to Cleveland. 

On Tuesday, ESPN's Chris Broussard reported that the Lakers and Love had scheduled a meeting for some time this week.

Love said in The Players' Tribune that he met with his teammates and the front office recently and added that the team has “unfinished business.”

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During the regular season, Love averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds. He was traded to the Cavaliers by the Timberwolves last August after six seasons in Minnesota.

- Molly Geary