Deep in the 2026 NBA offseason, even a small bit of trolling can get dragged into the rumor mill.
Kevin Love did exactly that when he took a shot at the Toronto Raptors and their fans by calling the city LeBrontro, using LeBron James’ name in the process. It wasn’t a major moment on its own, but it quickly becomes more interesting because Love has also been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers as a possible offseason addition.
The connection is easy to make, especially with Love expected to play a season 19. A move to Philadelphia does not feel impossible, and earlier in the offseason, NBA rumors said Love’s camp had been in contact with the 76ers. Love would be another former LeBron teammate in the mix, following Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
There’s just one problem: the Sixers’ money situation. Philadelphia does not have the financial room to fill its final roster spot with a guaranteed salary unless it makes another move first. Waiving Jabari Walker’s partially guaranteed contract would open the door, but the team has shown a clear interest in keeping the young reserve around for now.
So if Love wants to land in Philadelphia, winter may be the more realistic window. Until then, every remark he makes is going to be inspected for clues about where he might end up next.
Love is not limiting himself to just the Sixers, either. He has also been linked to his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Utah Jazz have been mentioned as another possible landing spot. The common thread is obvious: he seems to be looking at teams with at least some chance to make a title push.
For the 76ers, though, the question is not whether Love can be discussed. It’s whether he should be viewed as a meaningful answer. Keeping tabs on him makes sense if there’s real interest, but Philadelphia should not treat him like a high-end pickup.
At 38, Love still brings experience, but his playoff impact has faded. His most recent postseason came with the Miami Heat in 2024, when he averaged 6.4 minutes across five games.
Before that, he played 18.0 minutes per game as a starter in the previous playoff run and posted 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. That version of Love is a long way from the one who once played alongside LeBron James.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Got A Wild Reminder About One Bargain Contract
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Micic, who was drafted by the Sixers but never suited up for them, is expected to make $5.6 million with Hapoel Tel Aviv, while Yabusele is projected at $5 million with Panathinaikos in Greece. For a franchise that has spent years trying to maximize every roster spot and salary slot, it is a useful reminder that not every expensive basketball name is found in the NBA, and not every familiar one is cashing checks here. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Suddenly Have A Joel Embiid Problem They Can't Ignore
A foot sprain for Adem Bona has complicated what was already one of the clearest roster concerns in Philadelphia: the depth behind Joel Embiid. Bona is set to be reevaluated in two weeks before training camp, and with Ariel Hukporti the only other backup center on the roster, the Sixers are suddenly staring at a thin middle behind a star who has already had his share of injury issues.
Bona and Hukporti both bring limited NBA experience, which only sharpens the concern as camp approaches. The Sixers still have time to sort through options, but the situation leaves little doubt about how quickly the conversation around the roster can shift when Embiids support system looks this exposed. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Have A Real Backup Center Option Worth Watching In Miami
The Sixers are still carrying an open roster spot, but any addition would require a corresponding move, which keeps the front office in wait-and-see mode for now. One name worth watching is Nick Richards, a veteran center with the Heat who could fit Philadelphias need for a backup big if the situation in Miami breaks the right way.
For the Sixers, the appeal is simple: they have enough matching salaries on the roster to make a deal work if Richards becomes available, whether that happens because he does not make Miamis final cut or later in the season after Dec. 15. Nothing has been set in motion yet, but with the team still able to improve its frontcourt depth, this is the kind of situation that could quietly stay on the radar. [Read more 🡒]