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Free agent power forward Kevin Love has declared that he is returning to the Cavaliers.
He made that announcement on The Players Tribune.
Love, who lost most of the postseason to a shoulder injury, wrote the following:
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, who was seen meeting with LeBron James poolside, will earn a max deal of $110 million over five years, per CBSSports.com NBA writer Matt Moore.
The Cavaliers wasted no time locking him up, quelling rumors in the process that he was headed to the Lakers or Celtics.
Love was considered by some a poor fit as a third wheel in the Cleveland offense. His average of 16.4 points per game was nearly 10 points lower than what he had achieved the previous year in Minnesota. He spent much of his time roaming beyond the arc to provide space to drive for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
He hit two huge shots down the stretch in a playoff defeat of Boston and seemed to be finding his niche within the offense when the shoulder injury destroyed any further opportunity to contribute.
