Kevin Love Contract

Kevin Love is among the most well-renowned players who have played a significant role in the NBA's success in the past decade. It is no doubt that Love's dedication to the sport has propelled him to great heights. In this article, we will look into Kevin’s stay and contract details with different teams throughout his fifteen-year career in the NBA.

Beginning with the Minnesota Timberwolves

Love entered the NBA after being picked fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies and traded the same night to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the third overall selection OJ Mayo as part of the eight-player deal. Kevin Love signed his first professional contract; a four-year $14 million agreement which guaranteed an average salary of $3.7 million.

During his tenure with the Timberwolves, particularly from 2010 to 2014, Love improved as a player and utilized his tall frame to score and rebound effectively. During the 2010-2011 season, Love had his most productive season in terms of rebounding, averaging 15.2 rebounds and 20.2 points per game.

In 2012, Love signed a four-year Rookie Max extension worth approximately $60 million, including 60 million guaranteed and an annual salary of $15 million.

Love continued to excel over subsequent seasons. During the 2013-2014 season, love averaged the most points (per game) in a single season with 26 points along with 12.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. His ability to contribute both offensively and defensively made him a necessary presence on the court for the Timberwolves.

Joining the Cleveland Cavaliers

Amidst the trade rumors, Love had his career’s most impressive season in terms of points scored. During the 2014 free agency, Love got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers where he joined forces with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, creating Cleveland’s Big Three.

The three gifted talents complemented each other's games to perfection. While Kevin was a prominent scorer closer to the rim, Kyrie Irving was a routine long-distance shooter and Lebron James was the amalgamation of both.

In 2015, Kevin signed his career’s only five-year deal worth $113 million. The deal guaranteed Kevin $113 million and an average annual salary of $22.6 million.

The very season Kevin signed his new contract, the Cavaliers embarked on a memorable journey and secured the franchise’s first-ever NBA Championship. Love's contributions throughout the playoffs were vital as he averaged 14.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game with 38.5 % shooting in 20 games played.

In the subsequent seasons, Kevin along with Lebron, Kyrie, and the rest of the Cavaliers once again pursued the NBA title but unfortunately fell short both times to the Golden State Warriors.

Despite Kyrie and Lebron’s departure in 2018, Kevin stayed with the Cavaliers and assumed the role of a senior veteran player. He supported the team’s young talent, helping them improve their game and playing to their utmost potential while simultaneously putting up decent numbers himself.

In July of 2018, Kevin signed his career’s most lucrative deal; a four-year approximately $120 million guaranteed deal with an average salary of $30 million annually. Around January of 2023, rumors began to circulate about Kevin’s potential trade, leaving the Cavaliers for a championship contender team.

Traded to the Miami Heat

In February of 2023, Kevin took his talents to south beach and signed a one-year $3 million deal with the Heat. Kevin averaged 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the duration of the regular season and 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the 2023 playoffs. Miami Heat sadly came up short against the Denver Nuggets, losing the series 4-1.

In July of 2023, Kevin re-signed to stay in Miami. His new agreement was a two-year $7.8 million deal with a guaranteed average salary of $3.9 million per annum. Kevin’s second year is a player option, meaning that he can choose to look for deals with other teams after the 2023-2024 season.