Kevin Love would ‘fit in’ with this version of the Cavs

The Land could use some love

The Utah Jazz are reportedly expected to buy out Kevin Love’s contract after recently acquiring him in a three-team trade. The 2016 NBA Champion has naturally become a candidate to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Signing Love is possible for Cleveland even with second apron restrictions. This is because Love is being bought out during the offseason — not during the regular season. Had Love been released in February, for example, this would not have been possible for Cleveland.

As for Love’s fit on this Cavalier team...?

The Cavaliers are looking to fill out the final spots on their roster. Love provides someone of great value in limited minutes. He played just 10 minutes a game for the Miami Heat last season as he’s in the twilight of his career. No one expects Love to be playing heavy minutes anymore. This fits in well with a Cavaliers team that was using their last roster spots in 2024-25 for players in the ilk of Tristan Thompson and Chuma Okeke, who were of limited to zero use.

Even in limited availability for the Heat last season, Love scored 10+ points four times. While some might laugh at that metric pull, having your fourteenth player on the team capable of having that level of impact is not nothing. With DeAndre Hunter, Dean Wade, and Larry Nance Jr currently slated as the depth bigs on the roster, adding Love into the fold feels like a great way to round out the bigs.

Love at this point is best utilized as a stretch-five. It would be a lot to ask defensively to stick with the fours of today's game, and despite having a poor shooting year in ‘24, would still be one of the best three-point shooting bigs in Cleveland’s rotation. Love trailing as a five who can pull up from the top of the key would fit with the high-flying guards on the roster.

The most obvious and important reason for wanting Love back in Cleveland is his addition to the locker room. Love has bonds with players currently on the Cavaliers roster from his previous tenure, including the likes of core four and Larry Nance Jr.. It’s Worth noting that Love also has a strong relationship with Max Strus from their finals run together with the Heat.

It has been mentioned amongst various Cavaliers players the importance of the bond they had with Love. To have that type of leadership and mentorship is always a plus in any NBA locker room.

A Kevin Love return feels like a perfect reunion for both sides as Love gets one last chance at getting another championship. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers get someone with a championship pedigree to help support the current team. If this speculation comes to fruition, the Cavaliers would be adding another nice addition to what has been an active offseason.