Kevin Love of the Miami Heat rejects player option

Miami Heat forward Kevin Love has reportedly declined his player option for next season.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Heat and Love are interested in negotiating a new contract.

“Both sides are excited to negotiate a new contract in the early days of free agency,” Wojnarowski wrote to X. “The five-time All-Star has played the last two seasons with the Heat.”

Love has spent the last 1 1/2 seasons with the Heat, serving as both a starter and a key reserve, averaging 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds last year.

HEAT MAKES OFFERS TO SWIDER AND WILLIAMS

The Heat extended qualifying offers to Cole Swider and Alondes Williams on Friday.

Both players played for the Heat and their G League affiliate in Sioux Falls last year. Swider averaged a team-best 24.9 points for the Skyforce. Williams averaged 21.7 points, 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds.

J-RICH TAKES PLAYER OPTION

Josh Richardson will stay with the Miami Heat for at least one more season.

According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic, Richardson exercised his $3 million player option to return this season. Last year, Richardson was sidelined for most of the second half of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

ADVERTISING

According to sources, Heat guard Josh Richardson is exercising his $3 million player option to return for the 2024-25 season. @TheAthletic @StadionRichardson was a key part of Miami’s rotation before suffering a shoulder injury in February. He is expected to be fully recovered for next season. pic.twitter.com/xMFzbVULqx

RILEY CHEAPEST GOODS

It seems that this Miami Heat draft was easier than last year.

They had a good idea of ​​what they wanted when it was clear they would get the number 15. It was just a question of whether the player was still there.

It turned out that Indiana Hoosiers center Kel’el Ware was available, so the Heat could pick at will once their selection was finalized.

“We’re very happy that we were able to get exactly the player we wanted,” said Heat team president Pat Riley. “… That name kept popping up in front of me. The videos kept coming. The practice was exceptional the day he was here. We never deviated from his position on the board. Whoever was there or whatever it was, we were committed.”

Ware was introduced to the media in South Florida on Friday.

JAQUEZ WILL JOIN US SELECT TEAM

Heat forward Jaime Jaquez may not be competing in the Olympics this summer, but he will at least gain some of the experience.

On Friday, he was named to the Select Team that will face the U.S. Olympic team in Las Vegas July 6-8. Jaquez had considered representing Mexico in Paris this summer, but decided against it. He is also expected to skip the summer league in Las Vegas.

Here is the full list:
Jalen Dueren (Detroit Pistons)
Cooper Flagg(Duke University)
Langston Galloway (Contractless Agent)
Nigel Hayes-Davis (Fenerbahce, Türkiye)
Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State Warriors)
Jaime Jaquez Jr.(Intense heat)
Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets)
Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans)
Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings)
Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors)
Michael Potter (Utah Jazz/Salt Lake City Stars)
Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics)
Jabari Smith, Jr. (Houston Rockets)
Jalen Suggs(Orlando Magic)
Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets).

SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE IN VEGAS SET

With the NBA Draft over, the Miami Heat can now focus on developing their young talent.

The league has announced the schedule for the summer league in Las Vegas. The Heat will play five games, one of which is still to be determined. Here’s a look at the schedule:

Sat. 13 July, 6:30pm vs. Celtics NBA TV
Mon. July 15, 6 p.m. vs. Thunder, ESPNU
Wed. July 17, 3pm vs. Mavericks, ESPN2
Fri. July 19, 9pm vs. Raptors, ESPN+

Shandel Richardson is the editor of Inside The Heat. He can be reached at [email protected]

Follow our coverage and updates on Facebook

Twitter: @ShandelRich