76ers Pushed To Add NBA Champion to Frontcourt via Free Agency

The Philadelphia 76ers’ final roster spot does not have to be used on upside alone.

In an SB Nation article, Kevin Love was listed as one of the veteran-minimum targets the Sixers could consider if they miss out on LeBron James. It is an interesting shout because Love would not be about chasing what he used to be. It would be about understanding what he can still offer in a limited role.

Love is not the same player who became a star in Minnesota.

He is not the same player who helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA championship, either. At his peak, Love was one of the best rebounders in basketball, a high-level scoring forward, and a rare big man who could stretch the floor before that skill became a borderline requirement for frontcourt players. 

That version of Love has been gone for quite some time, but that does not mean he has no more use in the NBA. 

Love’s career has given him credibility that few players can match. He has been a franchise player. He has been a third star. He has been asked to sacrifice shots, touches, and status for a championship team. He has played next to LeBron James. He has played in and won the NBA Finals. He has experienced the adjustment from star to role player.

That kind of background can help a locker room.

Philadelphia is trying to manage a roster with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, and several moving parts. That kind of team needs more than talent. It needs veterans who understand how to stay ready, how to accept uneven minutes, and how to help younger players handle the grind of a long season.

Love can still serve a purpose there.

On the court, the appeal is simple. He can still shoot well enough to give the offense a different look. A stretch big man has not always been easy for the Sixers to find during the Embiid era, and Love’s ability to space the floor could create cleaner driving lanes for Philadelphia’s guards and wings. He is not going to defend in space at a high level, but in the right matchups, his shooting and passing feel could still help.

Even late in his career, Love still understands positioning, angles, and how to finish possessions. That skill does not age the same way athleticism does. 

Love would not be a flashy signing.

He would not be a long-term answer.

But as a veteran-minimum piece who can shoot, rebound, mentor, and bring championship experience, he is worth considering.

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 Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].