Love signs 4-year, $120M extension with Cavs

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension that tops out his overall deal at five years, $145 million, league sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Love, a five-time All-Star, opted out of the 2019-20 season on his current five-year deal, league sources said, and he will earn $24.1 million next season before the new four-year extension kicks in.

The Cavaliers arranged an impromptu signing ceremony for Love at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Tuesday, where team employees and arena construction workers would witness Love signing his deal, league sources said.

In the aftermath of LeBron James‘ departure in free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavaliers aggressively pushed to secure Love, 29, for the long-term. Owner Dan Gilbert and GM Koby Altman have been determined to keep the Cavaliers a playoff team, and that plan included keeping Love out of free agency in 2019.

The Cavaliers acquired Love as part of a three-team trade prior to the 2014 season, and he’s made the Eastern Conference All-Star team in each of the past two seasons. Love has averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds in his 10-year career, including 15 points and 9.7 rebounds in four trips to the playoffs with the Cavaliers.