kevin love toronto raptors

Are the Toronto Raptors in pursuit of this five-time NBA All-Star?

The Toronto Raptors have one open roster spot to fill before the start of the regular season, and this five-time NBA All-Star might be the perfect fit.

As the Raptors and Kyle Lowry hosted family, friends and former teammates at Toronto's TPC Osprey Valley Golf Club on Friday, there was a surprising NBA star in attendance who has never played for the Raptors — yet.

Former NBA champion Kevin Love was one of the big-name guests at the KLow Invitational, and the 38-year-old, 6-foot-10 power forward was seen chumming it up with Raptors personnel and the team's mascot before he teed off.

Love spent last season with the Utah Jazz, averaging 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 37 games, and is still a free agent just two weeks before the start of training camp.

The 18-year NBA veteran could be a big asset for Toronto, adding some much-needed rebounding depth to a frontcourt that was among the league's worst in that category last season.

Even though Love is far from the All-Star-calibre player he was a decade ago, when he helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA championship, the fact that he hasn't called it a career could mean he believes he still has something to give.

The Raptors could also bring him in on a one-year veteran-minimum deal, even though they've reached the NBA's first-apron cap limit.

Toronto also needs to fill the void of a veteran mentor after Garrett Temple retired over the offseason and took on an assistant coaching role with the Dallas Mavericks.

And Love has pretty much done it all.

He's won an Olympic gold medal, an NBA championship and even led the NBA in rebounding for a season.

He could be that small missing puzzle piece the Raptors just need.

Lead photo by

John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images


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