A year after mending fences with the best Kevin in franchise history, are the Wolves about to pull off a reunion with the second-best Kevin in the team’s history?
After buying out forward John Konchar over the weekend to free up space under the cap to sign Jonathan Kuminga, the Wolves have an open roster spot. That has many dreaming up a potential return of Kevin Love, who donned a Timberwolves jersey for the first six seasons of his career.
Addressing the fan interest in a potential reunion, insider Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic said “it’s possible” and that there is interest from both sides.
“From what I understand, Kevin Love is open to coming back to Minnesota,” said Krawczynski on a recent episode of his Jon Krawczynski Show podcast. “I do think the Wolves have some interest in bringing him back as well. It would just be a phenomenal story if the Wolves did decide to fill that spot, and they did it with Kevin Love.”
Acquired on a draft night trade in 2008, Love anchored the Wolves during some of the worst years of the franchise’s history. Despite being on bad Timberwolves squads, Love was still well-regarded around the league, earning three All-Star selections and being named second team All-NBA in two of his final three seasons with the organization.
Love’s time in Minnesota came to an end following the 2013-14 season, when the star forward and the team couldn’t come to terms on a deal. The inability for then-general manager David Kahn and Love to agree to an extension saw Love traded to Cleveland as part of the deal that landed the Wolves Andrew Wiggins.
Love then spent the next eight-and-a-half seasons with the Cavaliers, where he won the 2016 NBA Finals. In February 2023, Cleveland waived Love, who signed with the Miami Heat several days later. He played for Miami until July 2025, when he was traded to Utah. He appeared in 37 games, starting five, for the Jazz last season.
Soon to be 38, Love would probably be more of an experienced veteran presence than an actual contributor off the bench if he were to sign with Minnesota. It’s a role that remains unfilled on this current Wolves roster after their offseason overhaul.
“If you do look at one thing the Wolves could use, it is another veteran presence who can play some, which Kevin Love can do,” added Krawczynski. “But also (someone) who is that guy in the locker room who knows how to communicate with the coaches, who knows how to communicate with the players, who just be a real help in that end of things in a long season, kind of getting everyone through. When you lose Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, and Joe Ingles, all of whom played big, important parts in that aspect of team building, I still think they could use another voice, another vet guy.”
Bringing back Love for one final run would be a great storyline for Wolves fans. But how likely is it? Krawczynski said didn’t shut the door but noted that it’s “probably less likely that it happens than it doesn’t.”
“I think there’s some other guys they’re looking at as well, some other candidates for that spot,” continued Krawczynski. “But certainly if you’re just looking at the pure story of it, the idea of Kevin Love coming back for a Minnesota reunion, for maybe his last season or something like that, it would be pretty, pretty cool to see all that happen.”
“I think it is really notable that Kevin would welcome coming back here,” said Krawczynski.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Timberwolves section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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