Former NBA Champion Returns to Heat on Affordable 2-Year Deal
The Miami Heat made their first move of free agency on Sunday, June 30, by bringing back a former NBA champion.
The Heat re-signed big man Kevin Love to a short-term contract after he opted out of the final year of his previous deal over the weekend.
“Free agent F/C Kevin Love is finalizing a two-year, $8 million-plus deal to return to the Miami Heat,” Shams Charania reported on June 30, the first day of free agency.
Love’s new deal is similar to his previous contract in terms of compensation. Miami owed Love $4.99 million for the 2024-25 season, slightly less than his new deal’s annual amount. However, the new contract includes an additional year for around $4 million, making the total value roughly $3 million higher. Tim Bontemps of ESPN noted that there are no options for early termination in Love’s new contract.
Kevin Love’s Significant Role for the Heat Over the Past 2 Seasons
Love has been a key player in the Heat’s rotation, averaging 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 16.8 minutes per game last season, as per Basketball Reference. He played 55 regular-season games for Miami, shooting 34.4% from three-point range on 4.4 attempts per game.
The 6-foot-8, 251-pound Love won a championship with former Heat star LeBron James in 2016 as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over his 16-year career, Love has made five All-Star appearances and two All-NBA Teams (both second-team selections in 2012 and 2014).
Love joined the Heat for the 2022-23 season after leaving Cleveland, averaging 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds over 21 games. He was part of the Heat team that reached the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, eventually losing to the Denver Nuggets in five games.
Kevin Love to Back Up Bam Adebayo After His Max Extension with Miami
Love will now serve as a backup to Heat star Bam Adebayo, who recently signed a max three-year extension with Miami. Adebayo’s $166 million extension keeps him with the team through the 2028-29 season.
Adebayo averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in the 2023-24 season. Turning 27 in July, Adebayo has played exclusively for the Heat since entering the NBA in 2017.
Securing Adebayo is crucial for the Heat, though there remains uncertainty regarding superstar forward Jimmy Butler. Miami and Butler will not agree on a contract extension this season, allowing Butler the option to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
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