Veteran power forward Kevin Love is returning to the Heat on a two-year contract, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. The second year will include a player option.
The Heat are using their non-Bird rights to re-sign Love, which will result in a $3.7M cap hit for next season, according to the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. Miami could have gone as high as $3.84M to retain Love, so the team will get a little cap relief if the $3.7M figure is correct.
In any case, it’ll be a bargain for a five-time All-Star and 34-year-old rotation player. After reaching a buyout with the Cavaliers, Love appeared in 21 regular-season games with the Heat, including 17 starts. He averaged 7.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists, but the 37% career three-point shooter struggled from long range (29.7%).
Love played 20 postseason games with Miami, including 18 starts, and produced an average of 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17 minutes. His three-point shooting perked up to his usual level (37.5%).
While it remains to be seen how the rest of the Heat’s roster moves shake out, Love will likely be a starter or key second-unit player once again for the defending Eastern Conference champions.
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