TITLE: Jazz Lean on Kevin Love; Bulls Lose Key Scorers to Injuries; Clippers Eye Additions, Not Sales
SLUG: jazz-kevin-love-bulls-injuries-clippers-strategy
CONTENT:
Kevin Love Finds a Niche in Utah
Veteran forward Kevin Love, acquired as salary ballast in the summer three-team trade that sent Norman Powell to Miami and John Collins to the Clippers, has become a steady part of the Utah Jazz rotation. After logging only 10.9 minutes per game with Miami last season, the 18-year pro is averaging 20.1 minutes in December while contributing 9.9 points and 5.8 rebounds. He is shooting 41.3 percent overall and 37.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Head coach Will Hardy credited Love’s rebounding, floor spacing and experience for the continued playing time. “He’s an elite rebounder,” Hardy said, adding that Love’s savvy “gives us a different look.”
Bulls Rule Out Coby White, Josh Giddey and Zach Collins
Chicago’s injury list grew on Tuesday when the club announced three multi-game absences:
- Coby White (right calf tightness) will be re-evaluated in one week, sidelining him for at least four contests.
- Josh Giddey (left hamstring strain) faces a two-week timeline before the next medical check, costing him a minimum of eight games.
- Zach Collins (right toe sprain) will be re-evaluated in 10 days, his second extended absence after an early-season wrist fracture.
White and Giddey are Chicago’s co-leaders at 19.2 points per game, while Collins had scored in double figures in six straight outings prior to the toe injury. Their setbacks open minutes for Tre Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter and Jevon Carter in the backcourt, with Patrick Williams expected to rejoin the frontcourt rotation. The Bulls are also without all three two-way players, and rookie lottery pick Noa Essengue remains out for the year following shoulder surgery.
Clippers Plan to Buy, Not Sell
Despite a sluggish start to the season, the Los Angeles Clippers are looking to upgrade rather than dismantle the roster, league sources told Sam Amick of The Athletic. The club has won five straight and believes its current core is trending upward.
There is no indication guard James Harden, who holds a $42 million player option for 2024-25, is seeking a move elsewhere. Kawhi Leonard is owed $50 million this season and next, creating a clear financial window that runs through the summer of 2027. Team officials are reluctant to absorb contracts extending beyond that date but remain open to adding an “impact piece.”
For now, Los Angeles is prioritizing flexibility without viewing itself as a discount outlet after a bumpy opening month.
This concludes the latest roundup of roster notes from around the NBA.
Source: Hoops Wire
