Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love is declining his $4M player option, but both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal in the opening days of free agency, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Teams may begin signing free agents on July 6.
Love, who will turn 36 in September, averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds across 55 games for Miami this past season, shooting 34.4 percent from 3-point range.
The 2016 NBA champion, five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Team selection has played 16 NBA seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Heat, whom he signed with midway through the 2022-23 season after agreeing to a buyout with Cleveland, where he won that 2016 title and spent more than eight seasons.