Kevin Love’s path back to the Utah Jazz may have looked like a dead end a few weeks ago, but it’s not completely shut.
When free agency opened, the idea of Love returning to Utah started to fade fast. He had just finished his first season with the Jazz after being traded there in the 2025 offseason, and he’d made it clear he liked his time in Salt Lake City. Still, the Jazz moved quickly to fill out their roster with 15 traditional contracts, which made a reunion feel less and less likely.
Then came the LeBron James factor. Love was seen vacationing with James this offseason, and that sparked talk that the two could wind up together again depending on where James landed.
As Jake Fischer said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin Love is considered as a plus 1 to any team that acquires LeBron James,” - @JakeLFischer. (Via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/BzhsfVkzxA
But the latest twist makes that scenario harder to pull off. James has chosen the Philadelphia 76ers as his next team, and that move already puts Philadelphia at 15 players.
If Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also signs there, the number climbs to 16. That would leave Love needing two roster spots to open up just to join LeBron again.
Utah, on the other hand, still has a possible opening. One of its 15 current contracts, Mo Bamba, is non-guaranteed. That gives the Jazz a clean way to make room if they decide Love is worth bringing back for another run.
The financial side is manageable too. Love could come in on a veteran minimum deal, battle Bamba for the spot, and cost Utah just $200,000 if Bamba is cut before opening night.
And this wouldn’t just be a sentimental move. Love actually produced when he was on the floor last season. In 37 games, he averaged 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 37.3% from three in a little more than 16 minutes per game.
At 37, he’d be a third-string center, a veteran voice, and a frontcourt piece who can rebound and stretch the floor. That’s enough to keep the conversation alive, even if a return still feels more like a possibility than a prediction.
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The Cavaliers still owe Utah a 2028 pick swap and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, the kind of draft capital that can look ordinary now and suddenly become central later if the wrong team slips. For the Jazz, the appeal is not just that those picks remain in hand, but that the broader league landscape is making them more interesting by the day. [Read more 🡒]