Kevin Love’s next move is still up in the air, and the list of possible landing spots is starting to narrow into two familiar places: Philadelphia and Utah.
According to Jared Koch of Jazz On SI, the 76ers’ interest has only made a Jazz return a little more complicated. Love is still on the market after putting up 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 37 games for Utah last season, and ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, has been in contact with Philadelphia since LeBron James chose the 76ers. Love and James remain close, so the reunion talk has naturally picked up steam.
That said, Utah is not out of the picture. Koch notes that Love built a strong relationship with Jazz coach Will Hardy and was valued as a veteran voice for a young roster. Love has also said he’d be open to coming back.
The catch for both teams is simple: roster math. The Jazz already have 15 players on standard contracts, with Mo Bamba’s deal only partially guaranteed.
Philadelphia has its own roster concerns, along with hard-cap complications to sort through. So while Love has a couple of realistic options, neither one is especially easy to execute right now.
In Cleveland, the summer has been quieter than many fans might have hoped, but Zach Weiss of Cavs On SI makes the case that it hasn’t been a lost offseason.
His biggest point is continuity. Donovan Mitchell signed a long-term extension, Evan Mobley stayed put despite trade chatter, and Jarrett Allen is still in Cleveland. James Harden, acquired for Darius Garland during last season, is also expected to finalize a new deal.
Weiss also highlighted second-round pick Meleek Thomas, who led Las Vegas Summer League in scoring at 27.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three.
And then there’s the backdrop of last season itself. Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time without James in decades before falling to the Knicks.
Weiss’ point is straightforward: the Cavaliers may not have made a headline-grabbing splash, but they kept most of the core that got them there and could still have another move ahead. The bigger question is whether that will be enough in an East that looks tougher than it did a year ago.
Washington made a smaller move of its own, bringing back Alondes Williams, but Henry Brown of Wizards On SI says it shouldn’t be mistaken for a major shift in the team’s offseason direction.
The Wizards signed Williams after he showed some flashes in a short run with the club last season. He played four games and had one standout performance, scoring 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting against the Pacers.
This new deal should give Williams another chance in training camp, though Brown says he is not automatically locked into the regular-season rotation. Washington still has room to add another player, and Brown pointed to several veteran possibilities, including Anthony Gill, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, Aaron Holiday and Gabe Vincent.
For now, Williams gives the Wizards a familiar guard who can score and provide depth if injuries pile up. Useful?
Yes. The last word on Washington’s offseason?
Not even close.
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The Cavaliers projected first five looks strong on paper, with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen giving the roster plenty of size, scoring and experience if Harden is back on a new contract. But after an offseason that saw Cleveland lose several players and add Mario Hezonja, there is still some real sorting to do before opening night, especially on the wing where the team is trying to settle its rotation.
Small forward remains the clearest unfinished piece of the puzzle, and the Cavaliers are still working through their options there as the roster takes shape. There is also ongoing movement talk around the edges of the teams plans, with sign-and-trade possibilities and interest in other young forwards still part of the conversation, so the final version of this group may not be the one that heads into camp. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Enter Tough Race For A Proven Scorer They Could Need
The veteran scoring market got more interesting after Sacramento moved on from DeMar DeRozan, putting one of the leagues most proven perimeter options suddenly within reach. For a Cavaliers team always looking to sharpen its half-court offense and add a dependable shot-maker, the chance to get into that conversation is the kind of development front offices monitor quickly, especially with multiple contenders already checking in.
Cleveland is among the teams showing interest, but this is shaping up as a crowded chase, with Denver, Miami and Washington also in the mix. The Heat have been viewed as a leading candidate, which gives the Cavaliers plenty of reason to weigh how aggressive they want to be if they hope to land a scorer who is widely expected to be on a new team for the upcoming season. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Love Could Deepen The Cavs Sting From LeBrons Latest Move
Kevin Loves next move is still up in the air, but the possibility of him landing in Philadelphia is enough to keep Cavaliers fans watching closely. ESPNs Dave McMenamin reported that Love is interested in joining the 76ers, a team that suddenly has even more national attention after LeBron James signed there recently. Love, who spent last season with the Utah Jazz, is weighing his options as he looks for the right fit for the next phase of his career.
The Sixers, though, may not have an easy path to making it happen. Philadelphias roster situation could complicate any pursuit, even with Love said to be on the teams radar, and there is still no deal in place. For Cleveland, the storyline is less about a direct move and more about the uncomfortable reminder of how closely Loves career remains tied to the LeBron orbit. [Read more 🡒]