Kevin Love was called out by GM Koby Altman for coming out of the game Saturday against the Thunder and you have to imagine Kevin Love is not very happy at the moment and feeling underappreciated by the Cleveland franchise. Kevin Love has sacrificed his game to fit in with an offense which revolves
around Lebron James. Kevin Love during his Cleveland tenure has been utilized as a primary spot up 3 point shooter which was never his game in Minnesota. Kevin Love was a bruiser in Minnesota who attacked the boards relentlessly on both sides and he just so happened to be a very good floor spacer for a player of his size.
Looking at the Portland situation Damian Lillard had a meeting with the team owner to discuss the team’s direction. I love CJ McCollum he is as good as it gets when it comes to getting his own shot whether it is off the dribble,off the catch,coming off screens, and has been a clutch performer the moment he got healthy and Portland made him their second option behind Damian Lillard who is seen as the franchise player. Seems like the Portland Trailblazers’s problem is their lack of a power forward who can get them 20 and 10, the Blazers have sorely lacked that production the moment Lamarcus Aldridge left. Remember how good that Portland roster was with that inside-outside attack between Lamarcus and Damian? Why not trade CJ McCollum for Kevin Love and JR Smith? Kevin Love can certainly get back to averaging 23-25 ppg with 10-13 rebounds if Terry Stotts utilizes them the same way he utilized Lamarcus Aldridge.
For the Cavaliers it would obviously be about obtaining a go to scorer who can help Cleveland in tight situations where they need baskets and CJ can serve as Lebron’s Kyrie Irving. Not saying CJ will bring to Cleveland what Kyrie brought but he’s got the skill-set and game to make Lebron re-consider if he wants to indeed leave Cleveland or not. Maybe the Cavaliers can add on JR Smith who has severely struggled this season just to sweeten the offer for the Blazers but the trade would benefit both franchises. Not knocking Lebron James as a basketball player but Kevin Love and JR Smith would flourish in an offense which emphasizes ball movement where they can get more quality shots and have the opportunity to be much more then just spot up 3 point shooters. Kevin Love and JR Smith have proved over the coarse of their respective careers that they can do a lot more for their respective teams then just shoot, the problem is wherever Lebron plays ball movement is not emphasized.
To conclude Kevin Love has sacrificed his game in Cleveland and has even slotted down to the center position which is not his position. Kevin Love is not a rim-protector and never has been one and the Cavaliers are expecting him to be what he is not. He has another 3 years left on his current contract with the Cavaliers and is only 28 years old right in the middle of his prime, he deserves to play on a team that would maximize his talents and utilize his skill-set as a featured option in the post where he can make passes to cutters and shooters and actually have the offense ran through him. With Love and JR in Portland the lineup would be:
Damian Lillard-JR Smith-Evan Turner-Kevin Love-Jusuf Nurkic
That right there is a lineup in which every player compliments one another, Damian Lillard can run the offense and not have to worry about deferring to CJ McCollum who needs the ball to be effective. JR Smith and Evan Turner can roam off the ball and Terry Stotts would make sure they are put in the best position to succeed and contribute on both ends. Kevin Love and Jusuf Nurkic are both solid rebounders and can both catch the ball in the post and score in a variety of ways and make plays with their backs to the basket. Please Portland make it happen.
D-NBA 