Jazz still expected to trade or buy out Kevin Love before season

Kevin Love was part of the July 7 trade that sent Norman Powell to the Heat and John Collins to the Clippers, landing him in Utah on an expiring $4.15 million contract. Two months later, it looks more and more like his stay with the Jazz won’t last long.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported in August that Love was “actively exploring potential pathways out of Utah,” including a buyout. Now, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes that Love is “widely expected to be traded or bought out” before the season begins.

Utah, coming off a league-worst 17-65 season, doesn’t appear to be the right fit for the 37-year-old veteran.

Love is entering his 18th NBA season and has transitioned into more of a mentor role in recent years, though he did finish runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in 2021/22.

A contender is considered the more likely destination if and when he becomes available.

Durando floated Denver as an interesting landing spot, noting Love’s longstanding relationship with Nuggets head coach David Adelman, who was an assistant in Minnesota during Love’s early years.

The Nuggets’ forward depth leans heavily on young players such as Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes II, Zeke Nnaji and Hunter Tyson, with only Watson proven as a regular rotation piece.

That doesn’t make Love to Denver a prediction — just a possibility. Other contenders figure to keep close tabs on his situation as training camps approach.