NBA Notes: Jazz, Kevin Love, Cavs, offseason, Wizards

Jazz

Kevin Love’s future remains unsettled, and Jared Koch of Jazz On SI writes that Philadelphia’s interest only makes a return to Utah a little more complicated.

Love remains a free agent after averaging 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 37 appearances for the Jazz last season.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, has been in contact with the 76ers since LeBron James chose Philadelphia. Love and James remain close and, naturally, the idea of another reunion has generated plenty of attention.

Koch notes that Utah shouldn’t necessarily be ruled out, either.

Love developed a strong relationship with Jazz coach Will Hardy and was viewed as a valuable veteran presence around the team’s younger players. Love has also indicated he’d be open to returning.

The biggest issue for both teams is roster space.

Utah already has 15 players on standard contracts, though Mo Bamba’s deal is only partially guaranteed. Philadelphia has its own roster and hard-cap issues to navigate.

So Love apparently has two destinations that could make sense. Neither has an especially easy path to signing him at the moment.

Cavaliers

The Cavaliers didn’t land LeBron James and haven’t exactly dominated the NBA transaction wire this summer.

Still, Zach Weiss of Cavs On SI argues there are reasons for fans not to view the offseason as a failure.

At the top of his list is continuity. Donovan Mitchell signed a long-term extension, Evan Mobley remains in Cleveland despite trade speculation, and Jarrett Allen is still around. James Harden, acquired for Darius Garland during last season, is also expected to finalize a new deal.

Weiss also points to second-round pick Meleek Thomas, who led Las Vegas Summer League in scoring at 27.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three.

And then there’s last season itself. Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time without James in decades before losing to the Knicks.

Weiss’ basic argument is that while the Cavs didn’t deliver a splashy offseason, they retained much of what made them successful and may still have another move coming.

Whether that’s enough to keep pace in an improved East is the bigger question.

Wizards

Alondes Williams is back with the Wizards, though Henry Brown of Wizards On SI cautions against viewing the move as anything that changes the organization’s larger offseason plans.

Washington agreed to a deal with Williams after he showed flashes during a brief stint with the team last season.

Williams appeared in four games for the Wizards and had one especially memorable night, scoring 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting against the Pacers.

His new deal is expected to give him another training-camp opportunity, but Brown notes that Williams isn’t necessarily being penciled into Washington’s regular-season rotation.

The Wizards still have flexibility to add another player, and Brown mentions several veterans who could remain possibilities, including Anthony Gill, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, Aaron Holiday and Gabe Vincent.

Williams, meanwhile, gives Washington another familiar guard who can score and potentially provide depth if injuries hit.

In other words, it’s a useful camp move. Probably not the final word on the Wizards’ offseason.