Amid widespread speculation that veteran big man Kevin Love may pursue a buyout from the Utah Jazz, the rebuilding franchise has reportedly decided on his short-term NBA future.
Love, approaching his 18th season, was traded from the Miami Heat to Utah in a three-team deal on July 7. The move, which landed Miami a scoring upgrade on the wing in Norman Powell, ended Love’s two-and-a-half-year stint with the franchise that saw his playing time and production wane.
While no longer a star-caliber player, Love still offers floor spacing, rebounding, and savviness in spurts. As such, many anticipated him to be bought out over the summer and latch onto an NBA championship contender in pursuit of his second title. However, it appears he will have to put his ring chase on hold for now.
Kevin Love Expected To Take Part in Jazz Training Camp
On Tuesday, RG.org’s Grant Afseth reported that the Jazz “are preparing to open training camp with the expectation that Kevin Love will be in attendance.” According to Afseth, the update runs counter to the 37-year-old’s desired outcome.
“Love has been linked to several contenders around the league, and his preference to join a playoff-ready roster has been well known in league circles,” Afseth wrote. “For now, however, Utah has not advanced buyout discussions and is moving forward with the plan of having Love report.”
The five-time All-Star is approaching Year 2 ($4.2 million) of his two-year, $8 million contract. That positions him as a relatively cheap expiring deal that could be easily moved ahead of the upcoming season’s February 5 trade deadline.
Until then, Love will likely serve in a mentorship role for the young Jazz, who are coming off a league-worst 17-65 finish to the 2024-25 campaign. He could also log spot frontcourt minutes behind star forward Lauri Markkanen and rim-protecting center Walker Kessler. However, he will have to compete with the likes of prospects Taylor Hendricks, Kyle Filipowski, and veteran big man Jusuf Nurkić for playing time.
Love is no stranger to toiling away on lottery-bound squads, as he has missed the playoffs 10 times, including his first six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That said, “teams are expected to continue monitoring Love’s situation, especially if buyout talks eventually gain traction,” possibly setting the stage for a midseason change of scenery.
Across 23 appearances with Miami last season, Love averaged a career-low 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, one assist, and 0.7 steals per game, shooting 35.7% overall and 35.8% from deep.