Trail Blazers Trade Buzz: The Kevin Love Question

June 2, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first half in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
June 2, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first half in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Why Kevin Love Wouldn’t Fit

Kevin Love played six seasons in Minnesota, which is a similar market as Portland. He racked up several personal accolades while playing for the Timberwolves. His accomplishments can be easily overlooked though, as he never made the playoffs during his six year run there. He has since been a part of two playoff teams in Cleveland. Love has been an important ingredient of the Cav’s success, but he is hardly the catalyst for their back to back Eastern Conference Titles.

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  • Damian Lillard is a phenomenal player, but he is no LeBron James, which means that Love will have to step up his play if he hopes to achieve the same level of team success in Portland. His numbers certainly don’t indicate that he is trending in that direction. Even with the Trail Blazers, Love will likely be the second or third option on offense. He has only thrived as the first option in his career, which should be a major cause for concern.

    It is no secret that Neil Olshey will look to bolster Portland’s big man rotation this summer. Love would appear to cover that need, but he would do very little to cover up the Trail Blazers’ biggest weakness. Rim protection is the first priority, which is something that Love wouldn’t address. His defensive effort/ability is the biggest knock on his game. The Cav’s have tried several different ways to hide Love on defense against the Warriors, which could prove to be a nightmare for Terry Stotts in Portland. Stotts already has enough on his plate when it comes to defensive scheming, as Lillard presents his own liabilities on that side of the ball.

    Perhaps the biggest reason Portland makes the shortlist of potential landing spots for Love is the fact that he is from the area. While true, most Trail Blazers fans aren’t ready to embrace the idea of a “feel good” homecoming. Some Oregonians still hold a grudge against Love for his choice to play with the UCLA Bruins, as he spurned both Oregon schools in the process.

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    The biggest problem in the potential trade is the possibility of the Trail Blazers having to give up a major piece. The pairing of Lillard and McCollum has the makings of something truly special, which makes the concept of McCollum leaving unbearable for most fans. Even with the addition of Love, breaking up the backcourt would lead to a sizable step back in Portland’s progression. A trade package featuring Crabbe would be less painful, but would threaten the chemistry and playing style that made the Trail Blazers successful in 2015-16.