Cavs sign Love to $162M NBA extension

Kevin Love signed a $A162 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers as he committed to NBA franchise LeBron James left for a second time.

Kevin Love signed his new contract and proudly put on a hard hat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will rebuild around him.

The All-Star forward made a long-term commitment to the franchise on Tuesday by signing a four-year, $120 million ($A162M) extension.

The Cavaliers believe Love can help them stay competitive following LeBron James' departure.

The 29-year-old Love, who was nearly traded twice by Cleveland, signed the extension in front of dozens of construction workers inside Quicken Loans Arena, the team's downtown home, which is undergoing a $140 million ($A189M) renovation not unlike the makeover taking place with the four-time defending Eastern Conference champions.

The symbolic moment wasn't lost on Love, who came to Cleveland four years ago to join James and Kyrie Irving and form the Cavs' "Big 3."

It's now his team.

"I look back, everything happens for a reason," Love said.

"My best friend from back home said, 'It always works out'.

"This is where I wanted to be. I've said that all along.

"There were some tough times where potentially I would have been traded and my name came up in rumours every few months but hopefully that ends now."

Love will make $24.1M next season before the extension begins, making his contract worth $145M over five years.

Love waived his option for 2019/20 and there are no other options or trade clauses within the new deal.

He will be paid $28.9 million in 2019/20, $31.3 million in 2020/21 and 2021/22, and $28.8 million in 2022/23.

Although James is now with the Los Angeles Lakers, Love believes that with him and young players like rookie guard Collin Sexton, forwards Cedi Osman and Larry Nance and others, Cleveland can remain more than competitive.

"You lose the best player in the world, you have to form a new identity," he said.

"But I think in some cases what we lose in identity we will make up but we also have in culture."


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Source: AAP



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