Kevin Love’s Buyout With The Cleveland Cavaliers, Explained

It hasn’t been completed yet, but the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Love are reportedly working through a contract buyout. Love, after falling out the rotation and nine years with the team, reportedly asked out before the Cavs played the Philadelphia 76ers in their last game before the All-Star break.

So what does a buyout for Love look like? Where could he end up? And does it offer the Cavs any flexibility to fill a newly opened roster spot? Let’s dive in.

Why now?

Based on every bit of reporting available and my own conversations with people around the league, it seems like Love asking for a buyout is centered around his desire to play. He had not played in 12 consecutive games prior to the buyout after being a mainstay in Cleveland’s rotation before that. It was not a guarantee that he would have been able to get back into the rotation down the stretch run of the season.

A thumb fracture Love suffered in November seems to have changed this effectiveness. Since Nov. 19 when he suffered the injury, Love has shot 31% from three and 54% at the rim with an effective field goal percentage of 46%. Those numbers are significantly below his normal career levels.

Where could Love end up?

A number of teams — the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns — have reported interest in Love. There is some chatter that the Cavs don’t want Love to end up in Miami, but the The Athletic has reported that the Heat are the favorites.

Other teams that could make sense for Love include the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors.

The Bucks, in fact, could be the best basketball fit. There, Love could space for Giannis Antetokounmpo and gets defensive cover from Giannis. But they may not offer the guaranteed playing time he’s looking for.

At 34, it makes sense for Love to pick among championship contenders and prioritize another run at a title. But if he wants minutes, the Heat would make sense due to their gaping hole at power forward. The Lakers could too if he wants another run playing with LeBron James.

What do the financials look like?

Love is still owed around $8.8 million of his $28.9 million salary this season. As he’s likely to sign for a minimum deal elsewhere, he’s likely to give up around $850,000 to the Cavs in the buyout.

Does this offer the Cavs any additional flexibility?

For Cleveland, that $850,000 figure gives them an open roster and enough money to fill that roster spot with another player without going into the luxury tax. Cleveland will almost certainly be a luxury tax team in the future if they keep their core together, but it would be surprising if they dup into the tax this year and begin escalating tax payments now.

There isn’t anyone available likely to be signed and get minutes, but there are depth options for Cleveland available in the frontcourt or on the wing if they want them.

Why didn’t the Cavs use Love’s salary in a trade?

In retrospect, this is a fair question. Love, on an expiring salary, seems like he could have been used in discussions. He could have then gotten a buyout from another team if he so wanted.

However, expiring contracts aren’t worth what they used to be on the trade markets — they are no longer a chip that immediately opens up trade possibilities. Teams have to add picks on top of that salary to get deals done. Would Love plus second round picks have gotten Cleveland something it really wanted? And, by all accounts, the Cavs didn’t expect Love to ask for a buyout based on what they’ve said publically. Earlier this year, there was belief he could re-sign with the Cavs in the summer. Love himself

What have the Cavs said about Love’s buyout?

Since buyout talks were reported, neither the team or Love has said anything publicly. Because it’s the All-Star break, updates are not likely until after unless Donovan Mitchell is asked about it during his All-Star weekend availability. Love likely won’t comment until he signs with a new team.

After the trade deadline, Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said he didn’t an envision a buyout with Love happening.

“I have not been approached by [Love and his camp] at all and I don’t anticipate it either,” he said.