Now free, Love chooses Miami
Kevin Love says he has picked the Miami Heat.
Love said Sunday that he will sign with the Heat for the remainder of the season once he clears waivers, a major add for a Miami team that is looking to move up in the Eastern Conference before the postseason begins.
“Miami it is, yes,” Love said in a text message to The Associated Press.
Also Sunday, a person with knowledge of the matter said the Heat are finalizing plans to add another big man in free agent center Cody Zeller, with that deal expected to be completed before the team gathers in Miami to begin practice following the AllStar break. That person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because Zeller's contract has not been signed.
Love's decision was first reported by ESPN.
The 6-foot-9 forward and the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to buyout terms on Saturday, ending his nineyear run with the team that he helped win the 2016 NBA championship.
Over parts of 15 NBA seasons with Cleveland and Minnesota, Love has averaged 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds. He averaged careerlows of 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 20 minutes per game in 41 games, almost all as a reserve, this season for Cleveland and didn't play in the team's final 12 games before the All-Star break.
That prompted buyout talks, and once they were done, Love chose Miami.
Love is a five-time NBA All-Star, an Olympic champion and FIBA World Cup champion as part of USA Basketball, and his combination of size and 3-point shooting ability would seem to fit perfectly into the Heat system. LILLARD, EMBIID TOP ALLSTAR PICKS >> Damian Lillard was the first reserve taken by captain Giannis Antetokounmpo in the AllStar Game draft, and Joel Embiid was the first starter taken by fellow captain LeBron James.
It was the sixth time captains chose their teams, but the first time that it was done just minutes before the All-Star Game.
The draft took place just off the back of the court, with James and Antetokounmpo on one level of a stage and the other AllStars who will be in the game seated behind them, waiting to hear when they'd be picked.
Once they heard their names, they descended down five stairs and were handed their Team LeBron or Team Giannis jersey. The reserves were chosen first, followed by the starters.
James said it reminded him of grade school, “when you lined everybody up ... and you had two captains and you picked.”
Reserve round
Team Giannis: Damian Lillard (1), Jrue Holiday (3), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5), DeMar DeRozan (7), Pascal Siakam (9), Bam Adebayo (11), Domantas Sabonis (13).
Team LeBron: Anthony Edwards (2), Jaylen Brown (4), Paul George (6), Tyrese Haliburton (8), Julius Randle (10), De'Aaron Fox (12), Jaren Jackson Jr. (14).
Starters round
Team LeBron: Joel Embiid (1), Kyrie Irving (3), Luka Doncic (5), Nikola Jokic (7). Team Giannis: Jayson Tatum (2), Ja Morant (4), Donovan Mitchell (6), Lauri Markkanen (8).