The champion center is about to buy out!

According to well-known journalists Sam Amico and Bennett Durando, the Utah Jazz will buy out veteran Kevin Love in the next two weeks. The 37-year-old veteran is determined to join the Los Angeles team and end his brilliant career.

Love's current contract is US$8 million for two years, and there is US$4.5 million for one year. In fact, the Jazz had long planned to buy out Love, and the reason why it has been delayed until now is because the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the amount of the buyout.

In fact, the Jazz had the idea of ​​buying out Love as early as after the three-party transactions in the offseason. However, the two sides had never reached an agreement on the amount of the buyout, so they delayed the matter to this day.

This summer, in the three-party transaction between the Heat, the Clippers and the Jazz, the Jazz exchanged for Love, Li Keel and a Clippers' second round pick by sending Collins and Powell. At that time, ESPN rated the deal as Clippers B, Heat A, Jazz A-. As soon as the transaction was completed, the news that "Love is about to be bought out" spread throughout the alliance. Now as the negotiations progress, this suspense is finally coming to an end.

In the NBA buyout routine, players usually have to give up a portion of their salary, and the amount they give up is often the same as what they earn on a new team. For example, when Simmons was bought out by the Nets in February this year, he gave up $1.1 million, which is exactly the same as his annual salary for subsequent joining the Clippers.

The situation in Love this time is a bit special: he hopes to join the Los Angeles team with a base salary of $3.6 million in one year, while the Jazz believes that Love should give up $3.6 million in the buyout. You know, Love's total salary next season is only $4.5 million, and giving up 3.6 million means he will lose nearly four-fifths of his salary, which is a big concession for any player.

Love was the first-round No. 5 pick in 2008, second only to Derek Ross, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo and Russell Westbrook. In his rookie season, he averaged 11.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game with the Timberwolves and was selected for the second team of the All-Rookie Team.

On November 13, 2010, Love scored 31 points and 31 rebounds, becoming the first player to win "Double 30" since Moses Malone in 1982. In January 2012, the Timberwolves renewed his contract with $60.82 million for four years. On March 24, 2012, Love scored 51 points and 14 rebounds in a single game. In the summer of 2014, the Timberwolves sent Love to the Cavaliers in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thidis Young. At the Cavaliers, Love reached the finals for four consecutive years and won the championship with the team in 2016.

In the nine seasons of the Cavaliers, Love averaged 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 37.6%. He won a big contract twice here: he signed $110 million for five years in the summer of 2015, and renewed his contract for $120 million for four years in the summer of 2018. On February 19, 2023, the Cavaliers bought out Love and gave up his salary of $1.5 million. Two days later, he joined the Miami Heat and started a new chapter in his career.

Last season at the Heat, Love played 55 games, averaging 16.8 minutes per game, scoring 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists, and shooting percentage of 44%. Although his data is not as good as his peak, his role and experience in the locker room are crucial to the team.

Because his father was seriously ill, Love has never played since March 22 last season. On April 28, his father unfortunately died, which dealt a huge blow to Love.

Last season, due to injuries and family problems, he only played 23 games, averaging 10.9 minutes per game, scoring 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1 assist. Now 37-year-old Love hopes to end his career in a big city, Los Angeles has become his first choice.

Whether it is the Lakers or the Clippers, Love provides valuable veteran experience and locker room leadership. Although his athletic ability is not as good as before, his basketball IQ, pass ability and outside shooting can still help the team.