Jarrett Allen on Kevin Love leaving

Once the two parties reached a contract buyout agreement last week, “K Love’s” nine-year stint with the Cavaliers came to an end. The five-time All-Star joined the Miami Heat earlier this week, and on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Heat will play their first game after the All-Star break against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Neither Love nor Allen played in Cleveland during their formative years in the NBA. Instead, the former spent the first six years of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the latter donned a Brooklyn Nets uniform from 2017 until he was dealt to the Cavaliers in January 2021. Throughout the previous two years, a pair of powerful rebounders shared the frontcourt.

One would assume that the Cavaliers were aware that Love’s time with the club was winding down since Allen most likely won’t be waiting by the door at the Cleveland facility for him to return.

Love’s situation was resolved when he on Monday agreed to a contract with the Miami Heat for the remainder of the season. While the Heat can provide Love the playing time he was not receiving in Cleveland, it is also possible that the 34-year-old made this move strategically. The Heat are presently the seventh-seed in the Eastern Conference, although they are 2.5 games behind the fifth-place Brooklyn Nets. In the rankings, Cleveland is presently the No. 4 seed. In the playoffs, it’s possible that the Cavaliers will face Love and the Heat.

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