Kevin Love has interest in joining the Philadelphia 76ers to reunite with LeBron James, but Philadelphia would need to clear a roster spot before the veteran forward could return to his former teammate.
Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, has been in contact with the 76ers since James chose Philadelphia, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Love and James spent four seasons together with the Cleveland Cavaliers and have remained close, including taking multiple vacations together this summer.
The relationship has created a potential path for Love to join Philadelphia, but the 76ers currently have no available roster spot. McMenamin reported that Philadelphia filled its final spot by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, while Joel Embiid already has two backup centers in Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti.
That makes a roster move necessary if Philadelphia wants to accommodate the 37-year-old Love. The financial side is also relevant because the 76ers are operating with limited flexibility after assembling a roster around Embiid, James, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown.
Love spent last season with the Utah Jazz on a two-year, $8 million contract. He appeared in 37 games, averaging 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 16.6 minutes while shooting 39.7% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range.
His three-point shooting remains the clearest offensive reason for Philadelphia’s interest. Love attempted 3.8 threes per game last season and has made 36.9% of his three-point attempts across an 18-year career, providing a floor-spacing option from the frontcourt.
Love’s production has declined considerably from his All-Star years, but his career résumé includes five All-Star selections and averages of 15.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in 989 games. He was particularly effective from the perimeter during his Cleveland tenure, shooting 41.5% from three in 2017-18 while averaging 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Philadelphia’s current roster construction makes Love’s potential role relatively narrow. Embiid remains the starting center, while Bona and Hukporti provide younger options behind him, meaning Love would primarily add veteran experience, shooting and rebounding rather than serve as a primary interior option.
Love also has an existing relationship with Utah coach Will Hardy and has served as a veteran presence for the Jazz’s young roster. Utah, however, is also at full roster capacity, leaving Philadelphia as a potential destination if the 76ers create the necessary opening.
The 76ers finished 45-37 last season and entered the playoffs through the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed. They defeated Boston in seven games in the first round before the New York Knicks swept them in the conference semifinals.
