The New York Knicks bolstered their bench depth with the savvy signings of former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson and French big man Guerschon Yabusele.
They could add to their offseason coup a former champion and a perennial All-Star.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, five-time NBA All-Star forward Kevin Love is expected to be bought out by the Utah Jazz and will only consider joining big-market teams.
“The buyout doesn’t typically really get figured out until that next situation is fully determined. I don’t think you’re going to sign the paperwork to give up guaranteed millions of dollars until you have your next situation lined up.
“With Kevin Love, to my understanding, he really only wants to be in the big glamorous markets… New York, a Los Angeles type of situation,” Fischer said on his Bleacher Report’s “Insider Notebook” livestreamed on July 24.
The Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers are the top two glamour franchises in the NBA.
Love was the third star in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ championship team — the first 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history — in 2016.
Love, 36, is no longer the perennial All-Star he once was. He only appeared in 23 games last season with the Miami Heat, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds.
The 6-foot-8 veteran stretch big man was a throw-in salary in the Norman Powell–John Collins swap in a three-team trade between the Heat, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Jazz.
But while Love is in the twilight of his career, his veteran leadership and self-deprecating humor are very valuable to any contender’s locker room.
If the Knicks are to add Love, he will serve as a break-the-glass-in-case-of-emergency backup center who can space the floor.
Knicks Lead Russell Westbrook Odds
GettyRussell Westbrook, formerly of the Denver Nuggets, blocks a shot by Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks.
Aside from Lov, the Knicks were also labeled as the betting favorites to sign former MVP Russell Westbrook.
Offshore sportsbook Bovada has installed the Knicks as the odds-on favorites coming in at +250. The Sacramento Kings, who have been linked to Westbrook even before they landed Dennis Schroder, have the next best odds at +350.
Rounding up the betting list are the Milwaukee Bucks (+500), Miami Heat (+600), Dallas Mavericks (+800), New Orleans Pelicans (+900) and Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000).
Westbrook, 36, remained unsigned after he declined his $3.5 million player option to return to Denver.
The nine-time All-NBA point guard played a key role for the Nuggets last season, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists against 3.2 turnovers in 75 games. In Denver, the 2017 NBA MVP split his time between the Nuggets’ bench and starting unit.
At this stage of his career, Westbrook is looking to join a title contender as a ring-chasing veteran. With the Knicks being the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference next season, they have become a logical landing spot for Westbrook.
Ben Simmons Holding Up Free Agent Market
Westbrook’s market is being held up by Ben Simmons’ decision, according to Fischer.
Simmons, the former No. 1 pick, is also on the Knicks’ radar.
They are currently in a bidding war with three teams — Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics — according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“League sources say that the Suns have also had some recent dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I’m told has drawn interest since free agency began from Boston, New York and Sacramento,” Stein wrote on his Substack newsletter “The Stein Line” on July 20.
Last season, Simmons averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in his final 33 games in Brooklyn. He only played 17 games for the Clippers and was an afterthought, averaging career-lows 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
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