The Portland Trail Blazers’ interest in Kevin Love was a narrative that seemed dead in the water, until recent events added more kindle to the fire.
The Portland Trail Blazers‘ search for an upgrade at the wing has been one of the league’s worst kept secrets. The incumbent duo of forwards in Portland simply didn’t cut it in last year’s playoffs. Despite taking a collective 13.6 shots per game, Al-Farouq Aminu and Moe Harkless only hit 41.9 percent of them.
The pair were unable to stretch the floor for the guards and have never been genuine playmakers that get their team involved. Solid defense is helpful, but not enough to justify two of your core starters scoring a combined 15.8 per game in the playoffs and not contributing much else.
In theory, trading for a proven veteran that can fix a lot of these deficiencies among the forward rotation makes almost too much sense. Kevin Love fits the bill perfectly here, a player who has averaged a career double-double, being a force on the boards and from deep. He is also one of the league’s premiere big man snipers and has the experience of winning a championship and playing with one of the greatest players of all-time.
Love is a player that knows his place and knows how to complement a legitimate superstar like Damian Lillard. Forcing teams to respect his three-point shot, Lillard and CJ McCollum would have much more space to operate and elevate their games.
It’s no surprise then, that one of the NBA’s most well-liked locker room personalities and former-Cavaliers teammate Channing Frye gave Love a ringing endorsement. He didn’t stop there however, he went a step further and suggested that Love on the Portland Trail Blazers could potentially make them Western Conference favorites.
I’m gonna be honest i had a conversation with friends and i think the best move for the Blazers would be to get Kevin Love. I think it would shake the whole western conference
— Channing Frye (@channingfrye) June 23, 2019
Given the current state of affairs in the West, this idea is actually quite plausible. The hobbled Warriors and three-man team Lakers wouldn’t have the depth or versatility to adjust for a three-pronged attack from Lillard, McCollum and Love.
Additionally, Harkless and a healthy Jusuf Nurkic would help compensate for any defensive liabilities. With Harkless’ contract set to expire after next season, Nassir Little could assume the mantle as the starting small forward and defensive anchor – provided he shows positive development this year and next summer.
Between Little, Anfernee Simons and Zach Collins, the Blazers have a litany of valuable trade chips. Ideally though, Portland wouldn’t have to sacrifice any of them. Love is weighed down by the baggage of a huge contract and incessant injuries. As seen recently with the drama surrounding Chris Paul, other teams may not even want to take Love on at his current price tag for free.
But he still adds too much potential value to the Blazers for them to let his pass by. Portland must play up the angle of his hefty and injury liability to negotiate his price down. A deal built around Gary Trent Jr and picks (with Evan Turner and Meyers Leonard attached to make salaries work) may be enough to lure Love away from Cleveland.
With the perceived collapse of the Golden State dynasty, there has never been a better time to push the chips all-in in pursuit of a title. While the participants in the NBA Finals of years prior have been awfully predictable, there’s no telling how next year will shake out. The Portland Trail Blazers must make a move to tip the scales in their favor instead of waiting idly by.
Love is just one of many options that will present itself to the Portland Trail Blazers this summer. Perhaps the team opts to add Blake Griffin to their ranks instead, or possibly Robert Covington. One thing is certain, a roster shake-up should be a top priority before next season kicks off.