Kevin Love predicted to join NBA title contender after ‘math’ trade from Heat to Jazz

Billy Heyen

Kevin Love predicted to join NBA title contender after ‘math’ trade from Heat to Jazz image

Kevin Love doesn't seem thrilled with the NBA's newest trade.

In the three-team deal, Love goes from the Miami Heat to the Utah Jazz essentially because his salary allowed the deal to fit into NBA rules.

Love wrote on X: "Never thought I’d be a math problem. Welcome to the NBA."

But the replies to Love's post quickly should reveal to the future Hall of Fame power forward the good news about this math problem.

There's almost no chance Utah got Love in this trade to keep him. They needed the salaries to match, and then they'll likely release Love.

That would allow him to sign wherever he wants for one last hurrah chasing an NBA title.

Replies have already urged Love to go to Cleveland, to Oklahoma City, to the Lakers. 

On a veteran minimum contract, Love could basically go anywhere.

MORE: Breaking down the Heat-Clippers-Jazz trade involving Norman Powell, John Collins

At 36 years old, Love is a shell of his former self. He played 23 games in 2024-25, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He shot 35% from 3-point range.

His veteran presence and know-how can still make him useful to a winning team, though.

Assuming Utah does indeed get rid of Love now, it'll be interesting to watch where the NBA math takes him next to maximize winning in the twilight of his career.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle