Kevin Love’s NBA future appears headed for another turn. After being traded from the Miami Heat to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal earlier this offseason, the five-time All-Star is “actively exploring” a buyout, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
The 36-year-old forward—who turns 37 next month—has reportedly narrowed his preferred destinations to Los Angeles, with the Clippers standing out as an especially intriguing fit. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports that “word around the league” is Love hopes to land with either the Clippers or Lakers, though New York had also been floated as a possibility before interest from the Knicks cooled.
A Familiar Face for Tyronn Lue
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Love’s connection to the Clippers is more than geographic. He played under current head coach Tyronn Lue during their Cleveland Cavaliers run, winning the 2016 NBA championship alongside Lue and LeBron James. The combination of Lue’s familiarity with Love’s game and the Clippers’ veteran-laden roster makes Los Angeles’ other team a logical landing spot.
In a bit of irony, Love could rejoin former Jazz forward John Collins in L.A., with the Clippers acquiring Collins from Utah in the same three-team trade that sent Love west.
Clippers Roster Math Could Get Complicated
The Clippers do have one open roster spot, but like the Lakers, they are hard-capped at the first apron—just $1.2 million below that limit. Any signing would require moving or waiving another player to create room for a veteran-minimum deal. That maneuver isn’t unprecedented, but it would require some careful roster shuffling.
Still, the Clippers’ recent moves—adding Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Brook Lopez, and Collins—signal an all-in approach to surround Kawhi Leonard and James Harden with experienced, playoff-tested depth. Love’s combination of championship pedigree, floor spacing, and locker-room leadership could blend seamlessly into that vision, giving the Clippers another frontcourt option who can stretch the floor and rebound effectively.
Where the Lakers Fit In
While the Lakers remain a possible destination—especially given Love’s long-standing friendship with LeBron James—their own salary cap constraints mirror the Clippers’ situation. For now, they appear more as a secondary option than a front-runner.
Love’s Legacy and the Road Ahead
Drafted fifth overall by Minnesota in 2008, Love has averaged 16.2 points and 10 rebounds over 17 seasons with the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, and Heat. He was an All-American at UCLA before becoming one of the league’s premier stretch bigs and a respected veteran voice in the locker room.
Last season in Miami, Love appeared in 23 games, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in a reduced role while shooting 35.8% from three. At this stage in his career, his greatest value may come in short bursts—spacing the floor for stars, grabbing timely rebounds, and offering the kind of experience that can steady a playoff rotation.
If the buyout proceeds as expected, the Clippers could be positioned to give Love both the city he wants and the competitive opportunity he’s seeking. And for a franchise chasing its first championship, adding a player who’s been there before could be more than just a sentimental move—it could be the kind of depth piece that matters when it counts.