Multiple sources have informed The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor that pricey Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love would prefer to be traded to his hometown Trail Blazers. Love, a native of Lake Oswego, Oregon, is in the first year of a four-year, $120.1MM contract.
The big man, 31, missed 60 games last season with various maladies. Injuries also hindered his availability during the 2017/18 season. Love missed 23 games that year, his last All-Star season.
O’Connor opines that the expiring contracts of center Hassan Whiteside (who is earning $27.1MM) or wing Kent Bazemore ($19.3MM) could be used in a deal with Cleveland. Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, currently earning $18.5MM in the final year of his deal, could also be a good fit in Portland, O’Connor notes. Injured center Jusuf Nurkic is expected to return to the floor for Portland well before the playoffs commence.
The 10-15 Blazers are seeded 11th in the competitive Western Conference at present, but they are just two games back of the 11-12 Suns, the current No. 8 seed in a crowded race for the bottom of the playoff bracket.
Even with the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference fairly open (the 11-12 Magic currently occupy that position), the 5-18 Cavaliers face an uphill battle to make the playoffs. Anonymous leaks suggest player dissatisfaction with new head coach John Beilein, and their young guards, Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, have both struggled to perform thus far this season. With Love apparently wanting out, too, the Cavs may be best served cutting their losses and stockpiling whatever assets they can extract from an interested trade partner.
O’Connor notes that the Suns and Nuggets may also be candidates for Love’s services ahead of the February 6th trade deadline.
please change the title
Writer think he funny
he actually changed it lmao
Should have rolled with it.
Wait what did it say before?
“Love Might Love Portland”
“Kevin Love’s Portland” might have been better lol
The writer thinks he’s the man rn
Kevin Love and Mathew Delly for Hassan Whiteside and Skal Labissierre plus a protected first
When Nurkic returns Portland become a good playoff team but without him and with Whiteside gone they will struggle on defence. Delly comes in to help the guard rotation if needed, he’s also a capable defender and alright leader.
I think with Rodney Hood gone, they need to keep Bazemore and probably need to look for a back up 2-3 that can defend possibly Jonathan Simmons. Plus I think they look for a back up big with both Nurkic and Collins out and I think Kennith Faried would be a good pick up.
No thanks, Love can go somewhere else. He’s injury prone and overrated!!
Bazemore, Hood, 1st and an 2nd for Love. Trash for an above average stretch-4.
Hood is out for the year so can’t see a team wanting him, Bazemore is the Blazers only other decent option at the 3. NAS Litfle is to raw, Hezonja is a bench player, Simons is to small, Melo is an option but makes you very weak defensively.
Blazers need to keep 3 and D wings not throw them away
Not sure why Portland would go for Love when forwards like Gallinari, Derrick Favors, and half of the Knicks roster are all available.
Love’s contract is long, he’s had problems staying healthy, and his defense isn’t getting better. Portland can get very similar production from other players with much less long-term risk. To say nothing of the luxury tax implications.
If Love goes anywhere, it will be Miami. They’ll give up a first to get off of Waiters and Johnson, and Cleveland wants a first more than they want cap relief. Win-win.
Makes a lot of sense for both teams. Cleveland get a first, Miami gets a good 4 and a second star.
Miami would look pretty good with Butler Winslow Love and Bam. only issue is they can’t trade a first cause OKC has both of their firsts I believe