Kevin Love is finalizing a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Miami Heat are waiting to pounce as the top candidate to pick up the last of the Cavs’ old Big 3, according to The Athletic.

The buyout will enable the veteran forward to become a free agent before the league’s March 1 deadline to land with a team of his choosing and be eligible to play in the postseason.

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The Heat, who have an open roster spot, have been searching for a big man, The Athletic reported, and the 6-foot-8, 251-pound Love would fit the bill.

The Heat could have competition, however, with Sam Amico from Hoops Wire reporting the Lakers and Warriors were also teams to watch.

Love and LeBron James were teammates on the Cavs team that won the 2016 NBA championship.

The Warriors, meanwhile, would welcome Love’s championship experience as well as his ability to stretch the floor.

Love, 34, has been with Cleveland for the last nine years after six seasons with the Timberwolves, who drafted him at No. 5 overall in 2008. While in Minnesota, Love averaged 19.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists, and earned three All-Star game appearances as well as 2010-11’s Most Improved Player. award.

Love has seen his role reduced on a revamped Cavaliers roster, only averaging 8.5 points in 20 minutes per game as he suffered a thumb injury earlier in the season. Recently, he was pulled from the Cavs’ rotation, which has created a path for the contract buyout and the opportunity to play for a new team.

– with New York Post

MARKET COOL ON WESTBROOK

The blows keep coming for Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers sent Westbrook to the Jazz in a complex three-team trade with the Timberwolves and Jazz on the night before the NBA trade deadline.

Westbrook has since been given permission from the Jazz to talk to teams should get bought out of his contract, which has $23m million owing (on a $68.5m AUD deal)

The Heat, Bulls, Clippers and Wizards were initially linked to the 34-year-old.

Now, however, it seems interest in Westbrook has cooled.

The Athletics’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday that the situation was “slow moving”.

“There is not a spot yet for [Westbrook],” he said.

Specifically regarding the Los Angeles Clippers he said he “[had] not heard any traction yet.”