Caleb Love will happily return to Arizona if NBA dreams don't materialize in Chicago

Caleb Love is staying ready this week at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, but most signs point to a return to Tucson -- and a hefty NIL payday

By Isaac Trotter May 14, 2024 at 9:55 am ET• 4 min read

CHICAGO -- A handful of NBA Draft prospects slipped their names into the transfer portal before the May 1 deadline to keep their potential options opens.

Arizona star Caleb Love was not one of 'em. Nor was he one of the players who earned an invite to this week's 2024 NBA Draft Combine. 

Love competed in the G League Elite Camp on Saturday and Sunday and turned in a decent showing -- Love hit a pair of triples and flushed an impressive transition dunk in his first scrimmage to go along with four assists and just one turnover, while Game 2 was a bit rockier (eight points, two assists, three turnovers), but Love did swipe three steals -- but did not earn a call-up to the combine, which was on the line for top performers. Love will stay in the Windy City this week and could earn a call-up to Wednesday's scrimmages if the NBA needs extra bodies (stay tuned). 

The reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year noted that he "never" considered dipping into the portal for the second year in a row. If he withdraws his name from the 2024 NBA Draft before the May 29 deadline, he'll head back to Tucson.