Kevin Love Announces He's Returning To Cleveland
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Celtics woke up Wednesday waiting to hear whether or not they had a meeting with free agent forward Kevin Love.
That meeting will not happen. Love has announced that he's re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Love broke the news on The Players Tribune in a post titled "Unfinished Business."
"I'm going back to Cleveland," it read. "After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, that's when it really struck me. Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one. I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win. I couldn't have been prouder of them as they poured their blood, sweat and tears onto the court.
"Yeah, of course I've heard the free agency rumors. But at the end of the day, and after meeting with my teammates (it turns out pools are great meeting places) and with the front office, it was clear Cleveland was the place for me. We're all on the same page and we're all in. We have unfinished business and now it's time to get back to work."
Love's deal with the Cavs is reportedly for five-years and $110 million.
The Celtics made a hard push for Love on the trade market last summer, but ultimately lost out when the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to offer up first overall pick Andrew Wiggins in a package for the forward.
Love averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds for Cleveland during the regular season and 14.3 points and seven rebounds in four playoff games before his postseason ended on a hard foul by C's forward Kelly Olynyk.
The fifth overall pick in 2008, Love has averaged 18.7 points on 45 percent shooting and 8.7 rebounds per game over his seven-year career in Minnesota and Cleveland.
