Is there any substance behind Kevin Love potentially coming to Portland?

Kevin Love is facing a difficult scenario in Cleveland. Could a trade to the Pacific Northwest, his childhood home, kick start a new and improved chapter for both sides?

Ah, trade-deadline season. You are never missed.

During this time, NBA fans are treated to increased drama, shake ups, and playoff pushes. It’s such a fun time, in fact, that it seems to make time fly. It’s been almost a year since DeMarcus Cousins’ blockbuster trade to the New Orleans Pelicans.

That seems like it was just a couple of months ago, right? The Pelicans were drowning, but then nearly stole Cousins from Sacramento. Their season still ended poorly, but both Cousins and his teammate, Anthony Davis, were voted in as starters in this year’s All-Star game. On track to make the playoffs, Cousins recently tore his left Achilles and crushed the chance to do so.

Jusuf Nurkic Trade

The Trail Blazers could use a trade just like that before the Feb. 8 deadline. The team thought something similar was accomplished around this time last year.

Portland traded Mason Plumlee for Jusuf Nurkić and a swap of first round picks. The Blazers heavily won that trade – Nurkic played better and seemed happier in his new environment. “Nurk Fever” was rampant in Portland and a big hole on the team was filled.

Unfortunately, Nurkić’s first full season with the Blazers has been wildly inconsistent.

He’s averaging 26 minutes and producing 14.3 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game this season. Compare that to 29 minutes for 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game Nurkic put up in 20 games for Portland last year. He’s also shooting 4% worse so far compared to that small sample size.

Some nights, Nurkić has a 20-10 double-double. Others, he will play less than 20 minutes and look lost on both sides of the ball. But, all in all, Nurkic has been able to overall improve Portland. The glaring issue for the team is on the wing now.

Nurkić has become touchable in trades as opposed to earlier this summer – reports say GM Neil Olshey made he, Damian Lillard, and CJ McCollum unavailable for trades this past off season.

Would trading an above-average center for a great player at another position benefit the team?