Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers have lastly parted methods after 9 seasons and one memorable NBA championship collectively. Love and the Cavs have agreed to a buyout which places the veteran energy ahead on the free agent market simply forward of the stretch run for the playoffs. Love had been out of the rotation in Cleveland for the final three weeks and is searching for a brand new residence the place he can get some actual taking part in time, in response to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The 34-year-old Love was one of many longest tenured gamers within the NBA with one workforce after coming to the Cavaliers in a commerce for No. 1 total draft choose Andrew Wiggins forward of the 2014-2015 season. Love made two All-Star appearances in Cleveland, and was a giant a part of the Cavs’ 2016 championship workforce. Love has at all times been identified for his capturing and passing, however it was a key defensive cease on Stephen Curry in the course of the 2016 Finals that survives as his defining second.
Love’s play had been declining for a pair seasons in Cleveland after LeBron James and Kyrie Irving left the franchise, however he loved a significant bounce-back marketing campaign final 12 months by averaging almost 14 factors per sport and hitting 40 % of his threes. He instantly turns into one of many greatest names on the buyout market. Who may use his providers for the remainder of this 12 months? Here are 5 groups that may match him properly.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
The LeBron connection makes the Lakers an apparent match. James and Love have maintained a detailed relationship since profitable the 2016 championship collectively, and it will make sense if LeBron pushed to get the workforce to signal his buddy. The Lakers don’t take or make many threes, which is an space the place Love may assist. LA has additionally been a poor offensive rebounding workforce all 12 months, and Love nonetheless has some potential in that space, too.
I simply surprise if the Lakers actually have any minutes within the rotation for Love after making so many strikes on the commerce deadline. LA is already looking for minutes for brand new additions Jarred Vanderbilt and Mo Bamba within the entrance courtroom, and parted methods with productive backup middle Thomas Bryant to do it. LA would most likely welcome having one other shooter like Love round, but when he desires constant minutes this won’t be the most effective match.
4. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have been extraordinarily disappointing all 12 months with out injured guard Lonzo Ball, and their season solely acquired extra maddening when the workforce determined to face pat on the commerce deadline. If Chicago is critical about nonetheless making a playoff push, they’ve just a few evident holes they should repair, beginning with capturing. That’s the place Kevin Love might help.
The Bulls presently rank lifeless final within the league in each three-point makes and three-point makes an attempt. Love is a profession 37.2 % shooter from deep, and it’s one a part of his sport that aged properly. The Bulls don’t have a lot depth within the entrance courtroom as it’s with out injured small ball ahead Javonte Green. Love looks like a simple plug-and-play answer within the rotation who might help repair the surface capturing downside that has plagued the Bulls all 12 months.
3. Miami Heat
Like the Bulls, the Heat have been additionally one of many few groups within the league to not do something on the commerce deadline. It was simply final season when Miami got here inside a Jimmy Butler three-pointer of going to the NBA Finals, however the workforce has by no means actually hit its stride this 12 months due to accidents and a struggling offense. At the second, the Heat rank No. 27 within the league in offensive effectivity. This Miami workforce simply isn’t adequate capturing the ball — they make solely 33.4 % of their photographs from three-point vary, which ranks No. 28 within the league.
The Heat have largely been taking part in wings within the rotation round star middle Bam Adebayo. Signing Love would give them one other huge physique inside that may additionally assist handle their capturing downside. Love’s gradual toes on protection can be considerably minimized by Miami’s frequent use of zone protection, too. There’s a transparent path to minutes within the rotation for Love if he indicators in Miami.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks gained a championship in 2021, and are one of many favorites once more this 12 months. Love’s sport is an effective match for Milwaukee’s system: this workforce areas the ground properly and hoists threes with quantity round MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo’s drives to the rim, and that’s precisely what Love can do. The Bucks have been making an attempt to combine free agent signing Joe Ingles recently as he returns from damage, they usually simply traded for Jae Crowder to assist beef up their capturing and entrance courtroom protection. Are there nonetheless minutes right here for Love?
While his function is likely to be extra inconstant than in different spots, Milwaukee would provide Love the prospect to win one other ring. His sport is an excellent match with Antetokounmpo, who may cowl up for him on the defensive finish, and assist get Love open on offense along with his fixed rim stress. Signing Love can be good insurance coverage for Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez in the course of the playoffs, but when everyone seems to be wholesome I may see him getting extra DNPs.
1. Phoenix Suns
The Suns traded principally each future asset they personal for Kevin Durant on the NBA commerce deadline as a result of they wish to win the championship this season. Durant and Devin Booker instantly kind the league’s most dangerous 1-2 scoring punch. Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton are fairly rattling good, too. One query for Phoenix goes to be its depth, notably within the entrance courtroom. That’s the place Love might help.
The Suns solely have Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale at backup middle. T.J. Warren, Torrey Craig, and Darius Bazley will compete for minutes on the backup ahead spot, however Love is a greater spot-up three-point shooter than any of them. Phoenix has a lot pick-and-roll ball dealing with in the intervening time that Love ought to provide worth as somebody who can pop to the three-point line. His rebounding would assist, too.