After trading Johni Broome away to make room for their new additions in LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Philadelphia 76ers still have one open roster spot. At this point, free agency is not exactly teeming with appealing options for most teams in contention, but there is one name which the front office should have on their radar –– Kevin Love, James' former sidekick when he won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.
Love spent this past season with the Utah Jazz, serving as the voice of reason for their young team amid a tough, struggle-filled year. He missed a lot of games due to injuries and load management, but he was not exactly a bottom-feeder when he suited up. In 16.6 minutes per outing, he averaged 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a night while shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.
The 76ers can target Kevin Love to fill their final roster spot
The five-time All-Star has long been past his prime, but the rationale behind him being someone the 76ers should consider for their final roster spot is actually hinged primarily on his familiarity with LeBron. After all, they spent a few years in Cleveland, winning a title for the franchise in their historic 2016 run where they overcame a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
Be that as it may, there remain some useful tidbits from Love's on-court presence. The 76ers are in the continuous process of shoring up the frontcourt, and targeting a floor-spacer like the veteran would be a good way to vary the squad's pool of big men. Love is a career 37 percent three-point shooter, making him a good option for the team in spurts to generate more space for their shot creators.
Of course, rebounding is still one of Love's strengths. He is also a good passer for his position, even though his signature outlet passing has become a rare sight nowadays. Those are good qualities to have for someone who will only be a third-string option anyway. The personal nexus with James is, once again, a very welcome bonus.
The 76ers are at that point where they can afford to chase players for their name value. Fortunately, Kevin Love still has something to contribute in short spurts. While there may be better players to target for their final roster spot when they are able to, the team could do a lot worse than nab the former All-Star and deepen the group's connection to the King as they chase history.
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