Q: Ira, if the Heat don’t sign another center, can they arrange for Kevin Love to get a buyout and return? – Steve.
A: First, any decision regarding a potential Kevin Love buyout would be up to the Jazz, where Kevin was dealt as part of the Norman Powell trade. And it is possible the Jazz hold on to Kevin as a potential contract to send out to balance another trade. For now, Kevin is listed as No. 42 on Utah’s roster. But if there is a buyout, Kevin cannot be re-signed by the Heat unless he first is with another team after Utah. In other words, if Kevin were to be dealt by the Jazz and then be released by an acquiring team, he then could be re-signed by the Heat. But if he is released/bought out by the Jazz, he would be ineligible to immediately return to the Heat. For now, with Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware and Nikola Jovic in place, it appears the Heat have moved on.
Q: It seems that Kevin Love’s time came.to an unceremonious end in Miami, with neither side expressing much appreciation when he left. Was he expecting to stay and did they have a reason besides a financial one to send him off? – Paul, Miami.
A: There were numerous displays of respect from the Heat when it came to their social media, with Kevin Love more than aware of the possibility. From the moment Kevin was signed to a two-year deal in the 2024 offseason, the opening was created that this contract could be used to balance a trade under the cap, which is exactly what happened. At one point or another, almost all NBA players become as much a salary number as a roster component.
Q: Erik Spoelstra should really let Nikola Jovic and Kel’el Ware get their 30 minutes a game if they are playing well or not. I mean it’s time to figure it out, if we have really good ones, good ones, average ones or just-don’t-have-it ones. – Douglas.
A: Unless there is a dramatic change in approach by Erik Spoelstra, I can’t fathom him sticking with any player for 30 minutes if they are not playing well. It is a message he simply would not allow to be sent. Now, that doesn’t mean a player has to be scoring or compiling statistics, but rather that they are at least meeting team requirements in terms of effort and the game plan.