Kevin Love Signs With the Miami Heat After Completing Buyout From the Cleveland Cavaliers

• Kevin Love signed a one-year deal with the Miami Heat after he cleared waivers on Monday
• He completed a contract buyout with Cleveland on Saturday before signing with the Heat
• Love wanted more playing time after falling out of the Cavs’ rotation this season

Kevin Love is headed to South Beach.

The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Miami Heat after clearing waivers on Monday. He will wear the number 42.

The five-time NBA All-Star agreed to a contract buyout on Saturday with the Cleveland Cavaliers, paving the way for the switch, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Love a Cleveland legend forever

Love had fallen out of Cleveland’s rotation ahead of the All-Star break. He had not seen action in 12 straight games and subsequently requested a buyout from the Cavs, the team he had played for since 2014 and with whom he won a championship back in 2016.

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The former UCLA star was in the final season of a four-year deal with the Cavaliers. He is averaging 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season, shooting 38.9% from the floor and 35.4% from the 3-point area, according to

Love, who started his NBA stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves, has career averages of 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per outing, according to NBA.com.

Love bolsters Miami's playoff hopes

The 15-year NBA veteran has been dealing with a thumb injury during the season, causing him to lose some playing time. He now has the opportunity to play a fairly significant role for Miami, with Love expected to come off the bench for Bam Adebayo in the Heat frontcourt.

Miami wasn’t the only suitor of Love in the buyout market, with the Sixers also showing their interest in acquiring his services.

The Heat are in the thick of the playoff race, sporting a 32-27 record, which is good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Cavs, meanwhile, are fourth in the East with a 38-23 slate.

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Westbrook joins the Clippers

Sports Brief recently reported on Russell Westbrook signing with the LA Clippers after completing his buyout with the Utah Jazz.

Westbrook returns to Los Angeles, his home for the past two seasons. His stint with the Lakers ended before the trade deadline, with the front office trading him to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal.

He gets another opportunity to impress in LA, with Westbrook set to team up with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.