The Cavaliers still have a few moving pieces to sort out before opening night, and one of the cleanest options sitting out there is a familiar face: Kevin Love.
Love is an unrestricted free agent, and the fit with Cleveland is hard to miss. In 2025-26 with the Utah Jazz, he put up 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 37% from 3-point range across 37 games. Utah’s late-season tanking led to some strange lineups, but the numbers still show there’s something left in the tank.
The bigger draw is everything that comes with the name. Love was a major part of Cleveland’s 2016 championship run and spent nine years with the Cavs, earning two All-Star nods along the way. His connection with LeBron James only adds to the appeal, especially after the two built a close bond that was put on display through their team trip all over social media.
On the court, Love could fill the backup power forward spot and give the second unit a veteran voice. That bench group struggled in the playoffs last season, so the idea of adding a steady hand makes obvious sense.
Cleveland can also afford to wait on LeBron’s decision before making bigger moves, but Love is the kind of signing they can make regardless. If the Cavs want to strengthen the bench and add leadership at the same time, he checks both boxes.
And if the front office wants to send another message early, bringing back Love would do it. The Cavs already made clear they were willing to give Bronny James Jr. a roster spot, so there’s no mystery about the direction here. If LeBron is really on the way back, Cleveland could be tempted to bring the whole group together for one more run.
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For Cavaliers fans, the intrigue is obvious because Cleveland remains in the mix alongside Miami and Philadelphia. There is still no confirmed decision or timetable for when James will choose, so the suspense lingers for a fan base that knows better than most how quickly a familiar storyline can turn into something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Got Pulled Into Another Wing Move Waiting On LeBron
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The catch is that this is still part of a larger waiting game. The Lakers have been connected to Kuminga since late June, but their momentum has apparently cooled, and the broader market is still being shaped by LeBron James free agency situation. For Cleveland, that means the path to a move may depend less on urgency than on whether the rest of the league finally starts to move. [Read more 🡒]