Kevin Love says deal with Cavs is ‘inked and official’

Kevin Love said Thursday morning his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers was “inked and official.”

Love signed a five-year maximum contract worth $113 million. He announced eight days earlier that he would return to Cleveland, dousing rumors about a trip to Los Angeles to meet with the Lakers.

“I’m going back to Cleveland,” Love wrote for The Players Tribune in a post released at 2:30 ET on July 1.

Love met with LeBron James poolside in the days after the end of the season. James remains an unrestricted free agent but plans to return to the Cavaliers after the team sorts out a deal with restricted free agent Tristan Thompson.

New contracts with guard Iman Shumpert (four years, $40 million) and point guard Kyrie Irving, whose max extension kicked in July 9, are also official. James is projected to make $22.5 million next season on a one-year deal before becoming a free agent again in July.

“After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, that’s when it really struck me. Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one. I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win. I couldn’t have been prouder of them as they poured their blood, sweat and tears onto the court,” Love wrote.

“Yeah, of course I’ve heard the free agency rumors. But at the end of the day, and after meeting with my teammates (it turns out pools are great meeting places) and with the front office, it was clear Cleveland was the place for me. We’re all on the same page and we’re all in. We have unfinished business and now it’s time to get back to work.”

Love, who missed most of the Cavs’ run to the NBA Finals after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the playoffs, joined the Cavs last offseason via trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Love was playing in his first-ever playoff series when he dislocated his shoulder in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Boston Celtics on April 26. Boston forward Kelly Olynyk pulled down on Love’s left arm and yanked it out of the socket, forcing season-ending surgery.

Love played at UCLA and trains in Los Angeles. The Lakers and Celtics were among the teams expected to make a run at Love in free agency.

Love recently said that watching the Cavs face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals reiterated his desire to win a championship with LeBron James in Cleveland.

Love was asked on June 5 if he wanted to return to the Cavaliers next season.

“Yes. I want to win,” he said.