Kevin Love‘s departure from the Miami Heat was quite unexpected. Having been with the team for the last two seasons, Love embraced the role of the veteran. While it had looked likely that he would eventually retire in Miami, the big man now finds himself headed to Utah.
Love’s move to the Jazz was greeted by a hilarious tweet, where he addressed the complexity of the trade and said, “Never thought I’d be a math problem. Welcome to the NBA.”
It is becoming increasingly apparent that Love wants to be moved before the start of the season. With a two-year, $8 million deal, this opens up the opportunity for a contract buyout.
NBA insider Jake Fischer shed light on this potential event on his podcast and shared his thoughts on what Love might be looking for with regards to his next destination. He said:
“I don’t think you’re going to sign the paperwork to give up guaranteed millions of dollars until you have your next situation lined up. With Kevin Love, to my understanding, he really only wants to be in the big, glamorous markets. New York, a Los Angeles type of situation.”
The forward’s interest in playing in a big market, more specifically, a glamor market, presents an interesting list of options. With this in mind, we explore six potential landing spots for the former NBA champion.
New York Knicks
Among the first names mentioned by Fischer, the New York Knicks could prove to be an interesting landing spot for a player like Kevin Love.
The Knicks made a relevant run through the postseason last year, coming up short only in the Eastern Conference Finals. Led by a capable star duo in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, New York is primed to be one of the best teams in the conference next season.
Over the offseason, the Knicks have made some adjustments to their roster with some solid free agent signings. With the addition of players like Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele in free agency, the franchise has really improved the strength of its bench rotation without spending too much.
Along with this, New York also hired Mike Brown as their new head coach, which brings a completely new vibe to the team’s style of play.
While considering their recent additions, the Knicks could still find value in acquiring a player like Love. A savvy veteran with championship experience could be a crucial difference-maker in building team chemistry and cohesion.
Off the bench, Love averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. Although these figures don’t make an impact, he has proven himself to be a serviceable big man, offering added insurance for the Knicks.
When considering the high-octane brand of basketball Brown likes to play, Love may not be the best fit as a receiving player in the attacking half. But when factoring in his terrific outlet passing ability, the Knicks may be able to experiment with their transition play.
Los Angeles Lakers
In many ways, the Los Angeles Lakers could be considered the ideal landing spot for a player like Kevin Love. With his former teammate LeBron James likely to remain on the team, a potential reunion between Cavs teammates wouldn’t be out of the picture.
The Lakers have also had a solid offseason. With the addition of some key players, the Purple and Gold have significantly boosted their roster strength.
One of the team’s priorities in the offseason was the need for a big man. While the team addressed this by signing Deandre Ayton and re-signing Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers could still attempt to add some veteran depth as insurance.
As favorable as this would be for Love, the Lakers may not necessarily benefit from this move.
Given the blend of youth and experience on this team, the Purple and Gold are a balanced roster at the moment. Filling out their remaining roster spot with a veteran may not be in their best interests just yet.
The Lakers could consider signing Love later in the season, before the deadline. But heading into the new campaign, it doesn’t seem like the team would do this deal.
Los Angeles Clippers
Heading into next season, the Los Angeles Clippers are poised to be one of the most competitive teams in the NBA. With the potential to be title contenders, they could be a clear-cut landing spot for Love.
The Clippers have had one of the best offseasons in the NBA. With the acquisition of John Collins via trade and the signings of Chris Paul and Bradley Beal in free agency, the team boasts incredible depth in every position.
While there may be some criticism about this team being old, the experience on this roster cannot be overlooked. In this regard, adding another might work in their favor.
Love, on a low-cost contract, brings a lot to the table. His championship pedigree would help develop a young forward like Collins and prepare him for the challenges of the postseason.
At this stage in his career, it is evident that Love would take on a mentorship role. With the distribution of talent on the Clippers, signing with this Los Angeles team may align more with the forward’s interests and capabilities.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have been in a bit of a rut this offseason. Having made no significant moves thus far, the Warriors need reinforcements on their roster. With a dire need of depth in the frontcourt, Kevin Love could be a solid target.
The Warriors’ offseason dealings have reportedly been hindered by their restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. While the franchise has been closely linked with Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, the Dubs haven’t been able to complete these trades.
This puts them in a bit of a tough spot. Should Kuminga hold out for longer, the Warriors risk missing out on their two key targets. To address this, the Dubs could take a flyer on Love if he becomes available on the market.
As a low-cost big man, the forward is capable of shoring up their frontcourt rotation. With the added possibility of increased playing time, the 36-year-old may also view this as a favorable opportunity to display what he is capable of producing.
Boston Celtics
Like the Warriors, the Boston Celtics have had to make some tough decisions this offseason. After parting ways with some key players, the Celtics’ roster strength has diminished.
To clear cap space, Boston is expected to continue its ongoing efforts to sign talented players on low-cost contracts. While this approach has primarily been extended to younger players, the Celtics could benefit from considering Kevin Love as well.
Apart from his veteran experience, Love’s addition would help the Celtics shore up their presently depleted frontcourt rotation. Having lost virtually all of their significant big men, Boston needs to sign capable forwards and centers.
Love’s ability to rebound and make outlet passes is an upside, but his ability to stretch the floor also brings value when considering Boston’s style of play.
Cleveland Cavaliers
While not a glamorous market in any sense, the Cleveland Cavaliers are a sentimental pick. When considering that his arrival in Cleveland was marked by his desire to win championships, Love could return to the team for one more title charge.
The Cavaliers were the best team in the East during the regular season. Featuring stars like Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley, Cleveland boasts one of the most talented young cores in the league.
The Cavs have only made a handful of signings in the offseason, primarily due to the second apron looming over them. With the need to shed salary, Cleveland may have to make some tough calls.
This creates an opportunity for the team to bring back a franchise-favorite to bolster their bench and become a key figure in the locker room. Although an acquisition may be challenging, given the team’s current cap issues, a reunion would be an ideal way for Love to see out his career.
What’s Next For Kevin Love?
While it is clear that Kevin Love wishes to find a new team to play for, the Utah Jazz may not necessarily fulfill these wishes. Considering how difficult it is to grasp what the Jazz’s plans have been with regard to their rebuild, there is no telling what lies ahead for Love.
In an ideal world, a buyout would allow Love to pursue different options, allowing him to join a potential title contender as well. But with no clarity on this situation as of yet, the 36-year-old may simply be forced to play the waiting game with the rest of us.
