Instant reaction: Kevin Love signs four-year, $120 million extension
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star forward-center Kevin Love has signed a lucrative contract extension.
Initially announced by media reports on Twitter and confirmed by the Cleveland Cavaliers themselves, via Cavs general manager Koby Altman and the man of the hour himself, five-time All-Star Kevin Love has signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension.
ESPN reporting with @WindhorstESPN: Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension --- topping out his overall deal at five-years, $145 million, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 24, 2018
Cavaliers GM Koby Altman and Kevin Love are set to announce extension now at Quicken Loans Arena, with team employees and renovation construction workers in attendance. https://t.co/lr2FLCVcmR
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 24, 2018
The deal, which officially makes Love a cornerstone of the post-LeBron era Cavs, is also one which is fiscally responsible. After receiving a max salary through 2021-2022, the then 33-year-old Love will take a lower salary in 2022-2023.
Kevin Love's extension (4 years) is at the max salary in 2019-20 and '20-21, then no raise in '21-22 and then decreases in '22-23. Took about $8M less than his full max, according to sources
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 24, 2018
Love becomes a team’s first option for the first time since 2013-2014, his final season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He would average 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 37.6 percent shooting from three-point range (6.6 three-point attempts per game) that season, with 25 (out of 77) games scoring 30+ points.
To think, that wasn’t even the season (2010-2011) that he amassed 31 points and 31 rebounds in a single game, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Hall of Fame center Moses Malone in 1982.
While that may not be the impact that he has as the first option, in a small sample size (123 minutes) last season, Love averaged 27.5 points and 14.9 rebounds per 36 minutes when he was on the court without LeBron.
Small sample of 123 minutes... but...
— Micah Adams (@MAdamsStatGuy) July 24, 2018
In the time Kevin Love spent on the court without LeBron James last season, he averaged 27.5 pts and 14.9 reb per 36 mins.
And Cavs had a positive scoring margin.
Minnesota Kevin Love about to walk through that door.
As their All-Star power forward, Love will have a chance to return to the dominance he showed prior to the 2018 All-Star Break, when he was dominant in the mid and low-post, taking slower big men off-the-dribble and providing efficient shooting from beyond the arc.
He extended his shooting range prior to the playoffs as well, making him one of the most elite scorers at his position.
Love needs to improve his vision in the post, especially considering his passing ability. However, feeding him for baskets doesn’t seem like too bad of an option, especially when playmakers like rookie Collin Sexton and restricted free agent Rodney Hood are expected to provide ample perimeter playmaking.
After being the team’s scapegoat for the entirety of LeBron’s second stint in Cleveland and the constant subject of trade rumors, Love has emerged as the lone member from the Big Three left standing.
Now, he, Sexton and — likely — Hood will test their mettle as they usher in a new era in Cleveland.
Related Story: How Kevin Love changed the view of mental health
*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com