We’re nearly four weeks into NBA free agency now, and LeBron James has yet to decide where he’ll play next. While his return to action next season has been confirmed, we don’t know where he’ll ultimately end up playing. We also don’t know who he plans to bring with him, although one name has recently surfaced: former Cavaliers star Kevin Love.
According to Jake Fischer, Love could be set to rejoin LeBron James this summer. As an unrestricted free agent, he can sign with any team, and the latest intel suggests he’s planning to follow his former teammate to wherever he ends up.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin Love is considered a plus-1 to any team that acquires LeBron James,” reported NBA insider Jake Fischer.
At this stage of his career, LeBron only has a few seasons left, and he’s determined to make them count. That’s why he’s taking a slow, methodical approach to his free agency this year, allowing various teams to make their pitch. So far, the 76ers, Heat, and Cavaliers stand out as the favorites, but as many as 12 teams have expressed interest.
It’s unclear how Love fits in the picture, but it makes sense that he’d want to end his career alongside LeBron. In four years, they achieved great success on the Cavaliers, winning a championship in four straight trips to the Finals. While it was far from the perfect partnership, both James and Love look back fondly on their time together, which ended in 2018, when James joined the Lakers.
Nobody ever thought they’d have the chance to reunite all these years later, but the stars could align to make it happen. Since both LeBron and Love will likely sign for veteran minimum contracts, they don’t have to worry about making the money work. As long as a team has two open roster spots (potentially three for Bronny), LeBron and Love can reunite, adding a proven championship dynamic to the locker room.
Then again, Love is hardly what he used to be. At this point, he’s a shadow of his former self, with averages of 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game on 39.7% shooting and 37.3% shooting from three last season. Wherever he goes next, the 37-year-old will not have a major role, but he could still provide some value off the bench and in the locker room as a veteran leader and mentor.
The question is, what teams would be willing to sign both LeBron and Love? Given Kevin’s ugly exit from the Heat, it’s more likely he’d join the Cleveland Cavaliers. To this day, he’s treasured by the franchise for his part in their legendary title run. If he and LeBron return (maybe with Kyrie Irving?), it would be a chance to relive the glory days one last time before calling it a career.
Ultimately, only time will tell how this plays out, but it seems nothing is off the table for LeBron’s final stretch. Year 24 is going to be one for the history books, and Kevin Love wants the first-hand experience, even though his game has drastically faded.
