Kevin Love: Troubled Future and Final Turn with Jazz
At 37, Kevin Love is no longer the man of posters, let alone the man of automatic double-doubles. But there's still a figure, a name, a champion. And today, it is in Salt Lake City that his destiny is blurred.
Moved from Miami to Utah in a three-team deal in early July, Love found herself propelled into a jazz in the midst of reconstruction. A decor that has nothing to do with his career-end ambitions. The question is: Will Love really be a Jazz player, or will it only be a transitory line in their financial books?
The blur around the training camp
According to HoopsRumors, Jazz plans to integrate Love into its training camp. But the rumor of a possible buyout (a contract buyback to free him then) still floats. Utah has not yet engaged in serious discussions, but no one is fooled: a veteran of this calibre, paid 4.15 million on an expired contract, does not naturally fit into the reconstruction project.
We've already seen similar profiles never put on the jersey of their "new" team after a trade. For Love, it's the grey zone.
A free fall season in Miami
His numbers in 2024-25 in Miami were similar to his role: at the end of the rotation. 23 games, 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1 pass a night. Famelic averages for a player who was a statistical machine ten years ago. But Love is no longer that player. He became a Veteran in the locker room, a coach relay.
And it is perhaps this role, more than its minutes in the field, that Utah wishes to value with a young core in full learning.
Two assets that still count
Kevin Love is no longer a factor over 30 minutes, but there remains a sure value on two axes:
The experience of champion. Ring in 2016, playoff battles, star changing room. He knows the codes, he knows how to run a group.
A useful expiration contract. In the NBA business, it's a trade weapon. For Utah, this could serve as a currency exchange in a deal at mid-season.
An eye on the side of the contenders
If Jazz finally decides to cut the cord, Love could quickly become a courted name again. Contenders are always looking for a veteran who can bring a few smart minutes, an outdoor shoot, a little space, and above all a respected voice.
You can imagine teams like Boston, Milwaukee or even the Lakers watching the file, ready to jump if the buyout becomes reality.
The last chapter?
Kevin Love enters this strange moment of the career where we no longer wonder "when will he return to his level?" but rather "when will he decide that it is over?".
Utah is perhaps just a stopover. Maybe the final point. Maybe the bridge to a final tip in a contender. Anyway, Love's story isn't over. He will have the opportunity to bring his expertise, especially to young people like Ace Bailey before leaving as a hero.
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