Sources – Free agent Kevin Love re-signs with the Heat

Veteran forward/center Kevin Love is returning to the Miami Heat on a two-year contract, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on Sunday.

The deal, first reported by The Athletic, is worth over $8 million and includes no options.

Love declined his $4 million player option over the weekend, but both he and the Heat were enthusiastic about negotiating a new contract.

Love, who turns 36 in September, averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 55 games for Miami last season and sank 34.4% of his 3-pointers.

The 2016 NBA champion, five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Team selection has played 16 NBA seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Heat, with whom he signed midway through the 2022-23 season after agreeing to a buyout with Cleveland, where he won the title in 2016 and spent more than eight seasons.

He helped Miami reach the NBA Finals last year before the Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round this spring. Even at this stage of his career, he is still a strong rebounder and a big player.