The NBA buyout market is set to be an interesting one this year, and one of the names that could be a part of it is former All-Star and NBA champion Kevin Love. Reports are saying that Love is finalizing a buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that the Miami Heat could emerge as a suitor.
Love is 34 years old, and while he is no longer the All-Star level player he once was, he is still a quality outside shooter and rebounder. He is shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point range this season, and has a career average of 37.2 percent from 3-point range. He is also shooting an impressive 88.9 percent from the free throw line.
Love’s numbers this season are 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 20 minutes per game. He has averaged 15.3 points per game with 40.4 percent shooting from 3-point range in his playoff career, which includes a 2016 championship with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Love is unlikely to make a huge impact for his next team, but he can certainly be a factor off the bench. For teams like the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, who have open roster spots, they could benefit from adding Love to their roster. While the Celtics did add Mike Muscala at the trade deadline, they could still target a wing in the buyout market and not a player like Love.
No matter what team Love ends up on, he will likely provide veteran experience and a reliable outside shooter off the bench. He could be a valuable addition to any team looking to make a deep playoff run in the 2023 season.
