Although LeBron James is out of town, Cleveland Cavaliers are still not thinking about rebuilding. Cavs just gave their only remaining All-Star Kevin Love a four-year, $120 million extension and showed that they are looking to be at least competitive for several more years.
The extension will kick in at the start of 2019-20 season since Love opted out of the last year of his five-year, $145 million deal signed in the summer of 2015.
Signed, sealed, delivered. 📝@kevinlove pic.twitter.com/1iELkeoh1r
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) July 24, 2018
“I’d like to thank the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, [owner] Dan Gilbert and Koby Altman for having their trust in me and believing in our future,”- said Love during a signing ceremony held at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. “When I got traded here a few years back, I was committed to being here long term and I was committed to our culture, excellence in playing the game of basketball. And I think who we have on our team and who we have moving forward really reflects that.“
After losing James in the free agency this summer, Cavs decided to keep the team in the playoff mix and started working on a deal with Kevin Love.
“We are very excited to announce Kevin’s long-term commitment to the Cavaliers and Cleveland,” – said Cavs’ general manager Altman in a statement. “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.”
Kevin Love started entered the NBA in 2008 when he was selected fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. He was, however, traded on the draft night to Minnesota Timberwolves in an eight-player deal. After becoming an All-Star player with Timberwolves, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade. He won an NBA Championship with the Cavs in 2016.
