Kevin Love could be coming full circle this offseason.
The free agent big man Love is open to returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported this week. Krawczynski adds that the Timberwolves also have interest in potentially bringing Love back.
Love, who turns 38 years old later this month, remains unsigned as an unrestricted free agent. But a return to Minnesota would mark a real closing of the loop for Love as he approaches the end of his NBA career.
The former UCLA star Love began his pro career with the Timberwolves in 2008 and played six total seasons for them. He was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2011 and made three All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams in Minnesota, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier 20-10 threats.
In 2014, the Timberwolves ending up trading Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he made two more All-Star teams and won an NBA title in 2016. Now after spending last season with the Utah Jazz (where he averaged 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game), Love has a chance to return to the place where it all began.
Minnesota has had a superb offseason thus far, trading for former All-Star LaMelo Ball and adding ex-NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga as a free agent. While Love, who had also been eyeing another NBA contender in free agency, would be little more than a vibes veteran for the Timberwolves at this point, it would be hard to think of a more poetic ending for him.