The Utah Jazz elected to keep Kevin Love because, well, why not? He doesn't get paid much, but they're not going anywhere this season, and he wouldn't have had any interested suitors, so what could it hurt? After his preseason debut with the Jazz, it has become clear that even if they don't plan to waive him, their hope is to trade him.
Love played some legitimate minutes for the Jazz during their preseason debut against the Rockets, and he wasn't just taking up space (unlike some people). In a little over 20 minutes, he put up 12 points and six rebounds, not too shabby numbers for someone considered past their prime.
According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, a potential Love trade could be on the horizon, as many believed the team was using Love to showcase him to interested suitors.
"If there is any trade situation to monitor at present in Utah, it's the future of veteran forward Kevin Love. The Jazz allotted a healthy 20 minutes of playing time to the 37-year-old in Wednesday's exhibition loss to Houston. As with the Knicks starting Pacome Dadiet in their first exhibition game of the new season in Abu Dhabi, Love's playing time led several rival teams to wonder if the Jazz were already showcasing him for potential suitors before the regular season even starts," Fischer wrote.
Love showing there's still some juice left in the tank could be enough to convince a contender to add their frontcourt depth. It's not like the Jazz really need someone like him, so if they can find someone who wants him, it'd be hard to see why they wouldn't pull the trigger.
Love's inexpensive deal makes him easy to trade
Love is owed $4.15 million this season. Even if he's not the player he once was, he's not being paid a king's random for what he can still do. On paper, he still spaces the floor and he still has a nose for the boards, but isn't exactly the threat he used to be.
He wouldn't change a contender's outlook per se, but he could be a good placeholder in case a team is down a few guys in their frontcourt. Remember when the Celtics used to start Blake Griffin when they would rest Al Horford every so often two years ago? That's probably the best role Love could ask for at this stage of his career.
Because Utah has an abundance of bigs in their frontcourt, and Love is easily the most expendable of them all (all apologies to Jusuf Nurkic), they can afford to simply give him away, and for pretty much nothing. Love showing he still has some game left could actually be a pretty fun preseason plotline. Especially if it ends with him on a team that could use him.