Report: Heat’s Kevin Love to decline $4M player option

Veteran forward Kevin Love reportedly is declining his $4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, but Love and the Miami Heat are expected to negotiate toward a new deal, according to a report Saturday from ESPN.

The free agent signing period begins July 6.

The five-time All-Star averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds over 16.8 minutes in 55 regular-season games (five starts) with the Heat last season.

Love, who will turn 36 in September, signed with Miami in of 2023 after being waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he’d spent more than eight seasons and won an NBA title.

He has career averages of 16.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 929 games (684 starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-14), Cavaliers (2014-23) and Heat.

–Field Level Media