Sources: Free agent Kevin Love to re-sign with Heat

Veteran forward/center Kevin Love is returning to the Miami Heat on a two-year deal, sources confirmed to ESPN's Tim Bontemps on Sunday.

The deal, as first reported by The Athletic, is for $8 million-plus and doesn't include any options.

Love had declined his $4 million player option over the weekend, but both he and the Heat were enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal.

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% 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 the 2016 title and spent more than eight seasons.

He then helped Miami make it to the NBA Finals last year, before the Heat lost in the first round to the Boston Celtics this spring. Even at this stage of his career, he remains a strong rebounder and floor spacing big.