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Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The New York Knicks are in the market for more frontcourt help, and a new rumor opens the door for them to add a unique weapon against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers next season.
The Knicks organization is still celebrating the franchise’s first championship in 53 years even though it happened nearly two months ago. However, that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy this offseason as they try to maintain a roster good enough to make a run at repeating in 2026-27.
While they haven’t made big additions, they did re-sign valuable rotation players in Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado. Yes, they lost Mitchell Robinson in free agency to the Boston Celtics, but they did add two-time All-Star Andre Drummond to help fill the void.
They have been looking to bring in another frontcourt player but failed in their pursuits of Jonas Valanciunas and Yves Missi. However, there is another veteran option available that could be helpful in some tough matchups against James and the Sixers next season.
Kevin Love is still available in free agency
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Mar 9, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz center Kevin Love (42) runs down the court as the Jazz bench celebrates in the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Gabriel Mayberry-Imagn Images
According to a new report from ESPN, five-time All-Star Kevin Love’s “agent has been in touch with the 76ers’ front office since James picked Philadelphia.” The pair are still close friends after playing together with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and recently vacationed together. However, a signing seems unlikely at the moment.
The Sixers roster is full, and they recently did James a favor by adding another of his friends, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, last month. They would need to cut Adem Bona or former Knick Ariel Hukporti to make room on the roster for Love.
Furthermore, the report notes that despite the 37-year-old having a good relationship with Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy after being his veteran voice last season, the Western Conference team’s roster is also full.
Should the NY Knicks sign Kevin Love?
New York still has a couple of open roster spots. To add depth to their frontcourt, the Knicks seem to be targeting classic centers that can bring size and maybe some defense. The 6-foot-10 Love doesn’t really bring that. However, these are different times in the NBA, and small ball is used by teams throughout the league.
While Love doesn’t bring size and defense, he is still one of the best rebounders of his generation and adds something that Knicks head coach Mike Brown does like. The ability to stretch the floor and hit threes. That could be deadly against the 76ers and their expected defensive deficiencies. Love posted just under six boards in 16 minutes a night last season and shot 40% from three.
Yet, where he is could be useful is his inside knowledge of James and their friendship. He certainly would have some good advice on dealing with the NBA icon. But one also has to wonder if seeing a dear friend on the other bench might suck a little bit of fire out of the 22-time All-Star in games against the Knicks.
A reserve unit of Miles McBride, Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara, Love, Shamet, and Drummond would be a rock-solid group and give Brown some extra options off the bench.