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The 2019-20 NBA season is now less than two weeks away, although plenty could still happen in the days leading up to the new campaign. Free agents such as Carmelo Anthony, Kenneth Faried, and J.R. Smith remain without teams, while the Oklahoma City Thunder are among the teams looking to offload their experienced high-earners.
Teams around the league also need to decide who will make their roster for the upcoming season, and there will be no shortage of player movement over the next fortnight. So, with plenty going on, here is all the latest NBA news and rumors you need to know for October 10th.
Kevin Love rules out leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers
When LeBron James opted to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers last summer, Kevin Love remained loyal to the franchise he joined back in 2014. In the days after James' departure, Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension, and the Cavs hoped that retaining the 5-time All-Star would be enough to stay in the playoff picture.
Nevertheless, Love missed much of the 2018-19 season through injury, and the Cavs have since entered a rebuild. Due to this, Love has been frequently been linked with a trade, although the 31-year-old told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com that he wants to remain in Cleveland:
I do want to be here. I always have. I say that knowing it’s the NBA and it’s a business. I think especially after seeing last year, the summer leading up to last year and this summer, the changeover is like unprecedented so you don’t know what is going to happen.
During 22 outings last season, Love averaged 17.0 points and 10.9 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per contest.
Houston Rockets waive Anthony Bennett
Following an impressive spell in the G-League, the Houston Rockets bought in Anthony Bennett with a view of him earning a permanent spot on the roster. However, it was announced last week that the former No. 1 pick needed to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, and Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that Bennett has subsequently been waived:
Bennett was surprisingly selected with the first pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, although the 26-year-old has made just 151 regular season appearances during spells with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets.
Bennett's most recent NBA appearance came with the Nets back in early 2017, although the Toronto native has managed to rebuild his reputation in the G-League with Agua Caliente. While Bennett won't return to the NBA with the Rockets, he could still earn a roster spot with a rival team once he recovers from injury.
Al Horford is happy with his decision to leave the Boston Celtics
Heading into the summer, few expected Al Horford to depart the Boston Celtics. The veteran had established himself as one of the Celtics' most important players over the past three seasons, and the organization remained keen to sign him to a new deal.
However, Horford opted out of the final year of his deal and completed a surprise move to the Philadelphia 76ers. The move puts the Sixers in a strong position to contend for a title, and Horford told the Boston Herald that competing for a title played a huge role in his decision to leave Boston:
I want to be in a position that I have a really good opportunity to win now. You know, my window is now. That’s how I feel. I had to make a head-on decision, and it came down to the opportunity for me to compete for a championship, but also to maximize financially.
Horford turned 33 earlier this year, although the 18-19 season was one of the best of his career. The Dominican averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game - and he will now spend the next four seasons chasing a title with the Sixers.
