Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers lastly parted methods after 9 seasons and one memorable NBA championship collectively. Love and the Cavs have agreed to a buyout that places the veteran within the free agent market simply forward of the playoffs. Based on The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Love has been out of rotation at Cleveland for the previous three weeks and is on the lookout for a brand new house to play some.
Love, 34, was one among them longest-serving players in the NBA on a single team after coming to the Cavaliers in alternate for the No. 1 general choose, he chosen Andrew Wiggins forward of the 2014–2015 season. Love made two All-Star appearances for Cleveland and was an necessary a part of the 2016 Cavs championship workforce. Love has all the time been identified for his capturing and passing, however this was it a crucial stop in Stephen Curry’s defense during the 2016 Finals which has endured as his defining second.
Love’s sport declined in Cleveland for a number of seasons after LeBron James and Kyrie Irving left the franchise, however he loved an enormous springboard final yr, averaging practically 14 factors per sport and hitting 40 % of his three-pointers. He immediately turns into one of many greatest names within the buyout market. Who may use its providers by the tip of this yr? Listed below are 5 groups that might swimsuit him nicely.
5. L.A. Lakers
LeBron’s mixture makes the Lakers an apparent match. James and Love have maintained a detailed relationship since they gained the championship collectively in 2016, and it will make sense for LeBron to push the workforce to signal his pal. The Lakers do not rating or rating many three-pointers, which is an space the place Love may also help. Los Angeles has additionally been a poor offensive rebounding workforce all yr, and Love nonetheless has some ability in that space.
I am simply questioning if the Lakers actually have any rotation minutes for Love after making so many strikes within the commerce deadline. LA is already looking for minutes for brand spanking new signings Jarred Vanderbilt and Mo Bamba on the entrance courtroom and has parted methods with productive reserve heart Thomas Bryant to just do that. LA would most likely welcome a second goalscorer like Love, but when they need constant minutes, that may not be the very best resolution.
4. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have been very disappointing all yr with out injured defender Lonzo Ball, and their season received crazier when the workforce determined to satisfy the commerce deadline. If Chicago is severe about making it additional into the playoffs, they’ve some obvious holes they should repair, beginning with capturing. That is the place Kevin Love may also help.
The Bulls are presently backside of the league in each three-pointers and three-pointers. Love is an expert marksman with a 37.2% capturing fee and that is one a part of his sport that has aged nicely. The Bulls haven’t got a lot depth on the entrance courtroom as there is no such thing as a injured striker Javonte Inexperienced with a small ball. Love looks like a straightforward plug-and-play resolution to the rotation that would assist clear up the surface capturing drawback that has plagued the Bulls all yr.
3. Warmth in Miami
Just like the Bulls, the Warmth have been additionally one of many few groups within the league to do nothing inside the commerce deadline. It wasn’t till final season that Miami got here inside three factors of Jimmy Butler’s development to the NBA Finals, however the workforce by no means actually reached their purpose this yr resulting from accidents and an attacking wrestle. In the mean time, the Warmth are ranked twenty seventh within the league when it comes to offensive efficiency. This Miami workforce simply is not adequate on the ball – they make solely 33.4 % of their 3-pointers, which places them twenty eighth within the league.
The Warmth largely performed on the wings in a rotation round star heart Bam Adebayo. Signing love would give them one other huge physique inside, which could additionally assist clear up their capturing drawback. Love’s gradual steps on protection can be considerably minimized by Miami’s frequent use of zonal defenses. There’s a clear path to minutes in rotation for Love if he indicators in Miami.
2. Milwaukee {dollars}
The Bucks gained the championship in 2021 and are once more among the many favorites this yr. Love’s sport suits nicely with the Milwaukee system: this workforce is sweet at organising the ground and making three-pointers with quantity round MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo’s crosses, and that is precisely what Love can do. The Bucks have lately been attempting to combine Joe Ingles right into a free agent coming back from damage, and have simply traded Jae Crowder to assist them bolster their capturing and protection up entrance. Are there any extra minutes for Love?
Whereas his function could also be extra unstable than different spots, Milwaukee will supply Love an opportunity to win one other ring. His sport is a good match for Antetokounmpo, who may cowl him defensively and assist Love open up in assault with fixed strain from the ring. Signing Love can be hedge for Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez within the playoffs, but when everyone seems to be match I may see him get extra DNP.
1. Phoenix Suns
The Suns have traded nearly all future property they personal to Kevin Durant on the NBA commerce deadline as they intention to win a championship this season. Durant and Devin Booker instantly create the deadliest 1-2 within the league. Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton are rattling good too. One of many questions for Phoenix will likely be his depth, particularly on the entrance courtroom. Right here Love may also help.
The Suns solely have Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale in reserve heart. TJ Warren, Torrey Craig and Darius Bazley will likely be competing for a couple of minutes on the backup striker place, however Love is a greater three-pointer than any of them. Phoenix has a lot pick-and-roll ball manipulation in the mean time that Love ought to supply worth as somebody who can bounce into the three-point line. His fundraiser would assist too.