NBA
Kevin Love Signs 4-Year, $120 Million Extension With The Cavs
The Cleveland Cavaliers are not letting their last All-Star Kevin Love from the 2016 NBA Championship team leave by any means necessary.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst report the Cavs have signed Kevin Love to a four-year, $120 million extension. The team announcement was made this afternoon inside the Quicken Loans Arena. Love decided to sign his newly reconstructed contract in front of the Cavs organization and construction workers who were working on the renovation.
The All-Star has one year and a player’s option for 2019-20 on his current deal. He’ll be paid $24.1 million this season, and the option is worth $25.6 million. Love’s extension with the Cavs comes less than a month after the departure of King James. LeBron James left the team to sign a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Sources say the extension doesn’t start until the 2020-21 season.
The Signing
Although many expected Cleveland to respond to the James departure by entering a complete rebuild, the re-signing of Love indicates otherwise.
“We are very excited to announce Kevin’s long-term commitment to the Cavaliers and Cleveland. This quickly became a partnership the second we began these discussions. Collaboration and winning matter greatly to Kevin and that was reflected in this extension.”
GM Koby Altman said in a news release from the Cavs confirming the contract extension. He also raved about Love as an individual.
“Kevin’s talent and character are both at a very high level and he has earned his role at the center of what we want to do moving forward. As a five-time All-Star and NBA Champion, Kevin has a special understanding of exactly what success and winning require.”
In the same news release, Love spoke on always seeing a long-term future for him in Cleveland:
“When I first came to Cleveland, I came with a long-term mindset,” Love said. “I came here to win. We developed a culture here that reflects that. I’m super excited and I couldn’t be happier. It’s a big commitment for me and it’s a big commitment from the Cavaliers, so I want to thank Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman and the entire organization. I enjoy playing here, I’m excited about the team that we have and look forward to our future together. Cleveland fans have been special from day one and I’m also looking forward to continuing to be a part of this great community.”
The New Look Cavs
Love is averaging 17.1 points and 10.0 boards as a Cavalier, and 18.3 points with 11.3 rebounds over his 10-year career. Despite breaking a bone in his hand mid-season last year, Love still made the All-Star team for the second consecutive year.
Currently constructed the Cavaliers are not a championship contender. But the Cavs will be interesting to watch this season with the addition of rookie Collin Sexton, and the likes of Larry Nance Jr., Cedi Osman and Ante Zizic in increased minutes.
Love is usually the second or third best option for Cleveland but this year will be different. With the absence of former All-Star teammates Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, Love will jump to being the number one guy for the first time since joining the Cavs in 2014.
