Cleveland Cavaliers Set to Retire Kevin Love’s Jersey After Finalizing Contract Buyout

• Kevin Love's jersey will be retired at some point in the future by the Cleveland Cavaliers
• The announcement came hours after Love and the team agreed to a contract buyout
• Love has been with the Cavaliers since 2014 and was part of the team that won the 2016 NBA title

After nine successful seasons, Kevin Love's career with the Cleveland Cavaliers is over. The big man completed a contract buyout on Saturday, February 18, and will seek a deal with a contender.

The Cavaliers hailed Kevin Love, hinting that his No. 0 jersey will be in the rafter at some point in the future.

Love was part of the Cleveland team that made four straight trips to the NBA Finals. They faced the Golden State Warriors in all those trips, winning the 2016 Finals in a dramatic fashion.

He formed a potent trio with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. They were 3-1 down in the 2016 finals and mounted a historic comeback to win the city of Cleveland's first title in 52 years.

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Love's team were the underdogs against the 73-win Warriors, who had beaten them in the 2015 finals. They pulled off arguably the greatest upset in sports history. It was their first-ever NBA title.

Kevin Love jersey retirement

The 34-year-old has been relegated to a bench role following the emergence of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Cavaliers have been great this season, led by guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.

Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman said they plan on retiring Love's jersey.

"Kevin Love had an outstanding run with the Cavaliers, including memorable on-court moments, four NBA Finals appearances and an NBA Championship in 2016...He also embodied everything a franchise would want in a player, and the admiration and gratitude we have for him will ultimately land his jersey in the rafters," via CBS Sports.

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When it eventually goes up, Love will join Austin Carr (No. 34), Nate Thurmond (No. 42), Bobby "Bingo" Smith (No. 7), Larry Nance Sr. (No. 22), Mark Price (No. 25), Brad Daugherty (No. 43) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas (No. 11) in the rafters, per Bleacher Report.

Why Irving's jersey should be retired

Sports Brief earlier reported on Love explaining why Irving's jersey should be retired by the Cavaliers.

Love said Irving made the biggest shot in Game 7 of the 2016 finals, sealing the NBA title for their team.

Love, Irving and LeBron James were teammates on the Cavaliers from 2015 to 2017. They won the Eastern Conference in those three years and went 161–85 in the regular season.