The Jazz expect veteran forward Kevin Love to join them at training camp, Grant Afseth of RG.org reports.
Earlier this month, a report surfaced that the longtime big man was unlikely to begin the season with Utah as he sought pathways out of the organization, including a buyout. Love was dealt from Miami to Utah as part of a three-team swap in early July.
Love has an expiring contract, which will pay him $4.15MM this season, and it doesn’t seem likely he’d have a meaningful on-court role with the rebuilding Jazz. There have been instances in the past where veterans dealt under similar circumstances have not reported to the team.
However, according to Afseth, Utah has not engaged in serious buyout discussions with Love and is moving forward with the plan of having him report to camp.
Last year with Miami, Love appeared in 23 games and averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, all career lows. The 37-year-old could be a valuable piece for Utah on two fronts, Afseth notes. He brings championship experience, professionalism and leadership to the table and could be a mentor for the team’s young core. His expiring contract could also prove useful in a trade.
Playoff-caliber teams are expected to continue monitoring Love’s situation, especially if buyout talks eventually gain traction and he winds up getting waived.
Would it be legal for the Warriors to sign and trade Kuminga into that $18.4M Jazz TPE?
Warriors S and T to the Jazz for 3/60 or 4/80, Warriors get Kevin Love, a first rounder and a huge TPE.
Take out Love and yes. Trades into TPE’s can only have one player involved. They could also do two simultaneous deals, one Kuminga for a pick, and then another that’s Love for a much lower pick.
No scratch that second one. Warriors would still be over the cap without Kuminga. Besides, Kuminga would never accept an $18m salary knowing he’d be playing for the Jazz for at least two seasons.
The cap logistics don’t work but why wouldn’t he want to play for Utah for two seasons? He’d most likely be a starter. Collier at PG Bailey at SG, Markannen at SF, Kuminga at PF and Kessler at C. From first hand experience I’ll admit living in Salt Lake sucks but he’d get regular minutes and a chance to prove himself.
I think Kuminga would absolutely accept a 3+1 for $80M from the Jazz right now.
Haven’t heard anything about any interest between Kuminga and the Jazz, but that hypothetical deal would be legal, yeah.
Kuminga’s max deal that fits into that TPE would be 3/$58.7MM or 4/$80.1MM.
The Warriors’ TPE would just be just half of Kuminga’s salary due to base year compensation rules. They’d also probably want to use part of it to take back Love, since they’d be hard-capped at the second apron in that scenario, instead of at the first apron (if they took Love into their Kyle Anderson TPE).
I would ask him. You could just waive him and let him keep that 4m. You have Nurkic, Love and Niang all veterans. I believe in the three veterans but a guard forward and big man. Ask him. If he wants to stay then okay. Waive two of the three and sign a veteran PG and veteran wing (30+).
Future plans. Trade Walker Kessler and Hendricks for Clingan. If need be trade Lauri to acquire Boozer in next years draft. Or make a big deal offering George, Kessler and something plus a future pick to Portland for Donovan Clingan, Henderson and Sharpe. Then draft Boozer, rebuild done and then compete
Utah Jazz – making it up as we go
Kevin love to mavs or lakers would be great
I thought Love was getting bought out…… Jazz will be tanking Again. I don’t see him staying here.
Kevin Love and professionalism shouldn’t be in the same sentence. Dude was huge Diva in his tail end career in Cleveland despite getting massively overpaid. And then was a huge troll in Miami, especially during the whole Butler fiasco.