The Detroit Pistons could use more depth at power forward/center but don’t have much of a role to offer, which could lead them to a veteran addition like Kevin Love.
Love is looking for a way out of Utah via buyout according to Marc Stein (subscription) and could end up in the free-agent pool if that happens.
The 36-year-old former NBA champion last played with the Miami Heat as a back-of-the-bench veteran who can play occasional spot minutes at power forward or center.
Let’s be real, Love is well past his prime and is not going to play a big role on any team that has playoff aspirations, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be valuable in the right situation with a coach that knows how to get the most out of his remaining talents.
Detroit Pistons free agency: Adding veteran winners
Kevin Love is a smart player who has won a title and been a big part of very good teams. He was once one of the best stretch-bigs in the league, as he could step out and hit 3-point shots but didn’t give up anything on the boards as one of the best rebounders in the game.
Love is not that player anymore, but he has a wealth of experience that could be valuable to a Pistons team that has two young big men still learning the game. Love is not only a smart player himself but has been around some of the league’s best coaches, including JB Bickerstaff.
Love came 2nd in the 6th Man of the Year award under Bickerstaff in the 2021-22, and though there isn’t that kind of role for him with JB’s current team, the coach may appreciate having a familiar veteran he trusts for emergency situations.
Love only played 23 games last season for the Heat, but he can still give you spot minutes or fill in for stretches if needed. Even if he never played, having him around is akin to having another assistant coach.
The Pistons still have two open roster spots, and Love will likely be on a veteran’s minimum. Detroit likely wants to remain flexible both financially and when it comes to roster positions and may feel they have plenty of depth with their two-way players.
Detroit doesn’t want to give away roster spots to players who can’t contribute, but Love would be an interesting addition and give the Pistons some championship depth to complement their young core.