​It appears that a team aiming to sign LeBron James may need to reserve a roster spot for an additional player. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, 6-foot-10 forward Kevin Love could serve as James’ plus-one in free agency. Love is an end-of-the-bench veteran who might not contribute heavily in on-court production, but he would bring a steady locker-room presence, much like former Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin Love is considered as a plus-1 to any team that acquires LeBron James,” Fischer said on Bleacher Report’s stream on Saturday.
Love and James played together for the Cavaliers from 2015 to 2018, with Love contributing as a frontcourt option behind the top two. His lone championship came in 2016, when James led Cleveland’s historic 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors. The two have remained close, and they recently traveled together with other members of the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship cohort. James would benefit from having another veteran who can not only keep him accountable but also keep younger teammates in check.
Speculation continues about a possible reunion for James with either Miami or Cleveland, two often-cited landing spots. If Kevin Love joins the team, it would be another reunion for him as well. Love developed his role as a locker-room leader with the Cavaliers and later with the Heat between 2022 and 2025. In either franchise, a player like Love could prove valuable, independent of whether James signs with them. The Cavaliers boast a promising core featuring James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, who could benefit from Love’s veteran guidance, particularly after the team’s playoff shortcomings in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, the Heat have added Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with All-Star Bam Adebayo, and the franchise could still use a veteran presence akin to Udonis Haslem. Love could potentially provide that leadership, offering a stabilizing influence in the locker room and on the court.
At this point, it seems likely that Kevin Love would join the team that lands LeBron James. ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported on June 17 that, amid rumors of a return to the Lakers, Love was also linked to Los Angeles. “I’m hearing that [LeBron’s] likely coming back [to the Lakers]… Kevin Love could likely be joining the Lakers too,” Spears said on ESPN’s NBA Today. The reporting suggests that it could be James’ personal preference to have Love alongside him on his new team. The situation remains unresolved, with both players unsigned and no firm links to a specific destination, so the final alignment could still shift as negotiations unfold.