Kevin Love’s first return to Target Center in 2015 came with a loud reminder of how ugly the breakup had been. Minnesota fans booed the former franchise cornerstone on Jan. 31, 2015, just five months after the Timberwolves sent him to Cleveland.
At the time, the reaction fit the mood. Love had grown frustrated with the losing around him after six seasons in Minnesota and never reached the playoffs there.
He reportedly told the front office he would not sign an extension when his deal expired after the 2015 season, and the Wolves moved him before that happened. Plenty of fans saw it as Love walking away from the franchise in search of a ring with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
A decade later, though, the story has changed. Many fans now want to see Love back in Minnesota for his 19th NBA season, and according to The Athletic’s Jon Kraczynski, there is “some mutual interest” between Love and the Timberwolves.
The fit is at least practical. Minnesota has one standard roster spot open, and the team cleared enough cap space through the Josh Green trade and the subsequent John Konchar waive-and-stretch to sign a veteran on a minimum deal. The Wolves do not have to fill that last spot before the regular season, but if they do choose Love, they’d be getting a 38-year-old who still has something to offer.
Love’s Cleveland move gave him the playoff basketball he wanted, and it delivered a title in 2016. In that championship run, he averaged 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds over 20 playoff games, shooting 38.5% from the field and 41.4% from 3 in 30.7 minutes per game. He has since reached the Finals four more times and lost each time.
He also hasn’t been in the rotation of a championship-level team since making the Finals with the Miami Heat in 2023, but his value now goes beyond numbers. Utah head coach Will Hardy praised Love’s presence last season, saying, “I think Kevin is a Hall of Fame player,” Hardy said.
“We need veteran leadership in our locker room, and he has been where all of our guys want to go. He has won at the highest level.
In his 18th year in the NBA, he has established longevity in the league, which is what all the young guys want. He has added a lot to our group, so we are lucky to have him.”
That kind of voice would matter in Minnesota. The Wolves are much younger now after Mike Conley signed with Boston, Kyle Anderson went to Toronto, and Joe Ingles returned to Australia.
Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert are being asked to carry more of the leadership load, and Edwards has already said he is ready for that challenge. Even so, another veteran in the room would help.
Love would also bring a familiar face into a season that already feels like a fresh start for Minnesota. The team is rolling out new jerseys that nod to its past, a new court with the same idea, and a new point guard in Ball who is supposed to help form a long-term All-Star backcourt with Edwards.
The Wolves also beat the Lakers for Jonathan Kuminga, landed him on a cheaper deal, and will hang Kevin Garnett’s jersey in the rafters in February. Christmas Day will bring another milestone: the first home Christmas game in franchise history.
On the floor, Love would not be asked to do much. He averaged 16.6 minutes in 37 games with Utah last season, putting up 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds while hitting 37.3% from deep on 3.8 attempts per game. That profile fits a spot role, not a nightly workload, and that is probably all Minnesota would need.
If injuries hit Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert, or Joan Beringer, Love could still help in short bursts. His defense away from the rim would be a concern in certain matchups, but the Wolves could likely cover for that in limited minutes. He remains a solid rebounder and can function as a pick-and-pop threat next to Ball.
The offensive upside is straightforward. Love’s shooting lets Chris Finch keep defenses honest without having to worry about opponents collapsing off him. That is not something Minnesota would get from many of the other bigger free-agent options, including Drew Eubanks, Mason Plumlee, or Bismack Biyombo.
Love would not come back expecting a major role, and he would not be the All-Star who drew boos at Target Center more than 10 years ago. But for a team trying to blend a new era with a nod to its past, a reunion with the player it drafted fifth overall in 2008 would make plenty of sense.
In Other News...
Hornets Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch Minnesota's Next Move
The Timberwolves have already made their biggest splash of the offseason by landing LaMelo Ball from Charlotte in a deal that sent Naz Reid and multiple draft picks the other way. They also added Jonathan Kuminga, who will wear No. 24, giving Minnesota a newer, more athletic look around a roster that is clearly being reshaped with an eye on the future.
For Hornets fans, though, the real reason to keep one eye on Minnesota is the possibility that the Wolves are not done making major moves. With a veteran center carrying a complicated contract situation and Minnesota showing a willingness to lean younger in the frontcourt, there is at least a path toward another significant change down the line. Nothing has been finalized, but the next Timberwolves move could end up mattering just as much to Charlotte as the one that already did. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga's New Situation Could Change How Hawks Fans Feel
Jonathan Kumingas move to Minnesota is the kind of signing that can look straightforward on paper and still carry a lot of intrigue once the roster fit comes into focus. He picked the Timberwolves over other suitors, including the Lakers, and the deal gives him a fresh start on a team that has built its identity around length, pressure and defensive versatility.
Still, there is at least some skepticism about how quickly Kuminga will find a clear lane in the rotation, especially with established pieces already in place. His agent, Aaron Turner, framed the choice as a fit-for-defense decision, but the second year of the contract is a player option, which keeps this from feeling like a simple long-term lock. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Face A Costly Decision With Their Final Roster Spot
The Timberwolves suddenly have some breathing room after trading Josh Green and waiving John Konchar, leaving them enough roster flexibility to bring in another player while staying under the second tax apron. Even so, the front office is weighing whether that last standard roster spot is worth filling right away, especially with the summer still offering ways to patch holes without locking in a full-season commitment.
A final addition would help with depth, particularly up front, but the financial tradeoff is real enough to make the decision linger. Minnesota could also keep the opening around for later in the season, using 10-day contracts to handle short-term needs or preserving the spot for a move closer to the deadline. [Read more 🡒]