• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Is Kevin Love a Hero for Saving a Dog?

  • Yes

    Votes: 28 48.3%
  • Too Right!

    Votes: 2 3.4%
  • Hotter than Jimmy G

    Votes: 15 25.9%
  • Jim Chones

    Votes: 13 22.4%

  • Total voters
    58
Still have a few friends out there in the NBA analytical world and I had an interesting conversation with one who intimated the Nets were also kicking the tires on Love.

They have salary matching assets in Crabbe, who's been out an extended period of time and they're currently in the 9th seed in the East. He has a player option left that he will surely pick up but he's a large expiring asset next year. The 1st they would convey would likely not be in the lottery (and would be heavily protected) but it is a good asset.

I don't know that the Cavs have the appetite for some combo of salary dump plus a mid 1st for someone like Love but I was told it was out there. Cavs could shed all of Love's future salary and reduce their payroll by around $12 million over the next 18 months.

I'm more luke warm on just something like the 15th to 17th pick back for Love but maybe others are more excited by BK at least sniffing around.

crabbe and a heavily protected pick does not sound like much in return for love
like the denver trade much better but porter and his bad back scare me
 
crabbe and a heavily protected pick does not sound like much in return for love
like the denver trade much better but porter and his bad back scare me

They also have a few young players they are likely to move off of but none of them move the needle.

Nets sounds like a plan B if the objective is simply to find him another home.

NBA teams also think the darkhorse destination for Love is New Orleans. They are really motivated with AD's impending FA and they have an interesting mix of assets, especially in 3 team trade scenarios.

This was pure speculation on my friends part but he was floating the gun to his head trade.....he thinks the two biggest buyers at the deadline will be Brooklyn and New Orleans.

CLE: BK 1st, NO 1st, Hill, Crabbe
BK: Randle, Hood
NO: Love

That's at least a potential baseline deal with two deadline buyers. You'd net (2) 1sts for Love that you could package with your own pick to move up (if necessary) or just bring in (3) rookies to add to the roster.

I personally think that is about as good as you can do with Love. His value has likely dropped but it does make sense for everyone involved. Both NO and BK improve significantly IMO and the Cavs get draft capital to start over.
 
My only problem with moving Love this year is...say we DO land a franchise cornerstone a la Zion or Barrett and say Sexton DOES pan out after a year of NBA experience under his belt, and we're one legit all-star caliber player away from making some serious noise...

Love's contract looks bad right now because we're bottom-of-the-barrel, but having him locked up for 4 years might suddenly look like a coup if a couple things go our way.
 
Last edited:
Guy suck. Didn't score any points tonight.
 
My only problem with moving Love this year is...say we DO land a franchise cornerstone a la Zion or Barrett and say Sexton DOES pan out after a year of NBA experience under his belt, and we're one legit all-star caliber player away from making some serious noise...

Love's contract looks bad right now because we're bottom-of-the-barrel, but having him locked up for 4 years might suddenly look like a coup if a couple things go our way.

This was likely discussed when they resigned him. His game should maintain itself- his shot should be solid over this contract, and he uses strength and positioning for his rebounds.
I wouldn’t anticipate a dramatic athletic drop off. The only issue is if he does lose some foot speed his defense will really get bad.
Adding him to Sexton, Zion/Barrett would be huge. That would also knock Cedi down to a fourth option, where he can flourish with his overall game and lack of pressure.
A late round pick or two simply isn’t enough to move him at this point.
 
This was likely discussed when they resigned him. His game should maintain itself- his shot should be solid over this contract, and he uses strength and positioning for his rebounds.
I wouldn’t anticipate a dramatic athletic drop off. The only issue is if he does lose some foot speed his defense will really get bad.
Adding him to Sexton, Zion/Barrett would be huge. That would also knock Cedi down to a fourth option, where he can flourish with his overall game and lack of pressure.
A late round pick or two simply isn’t enough to move him at this point.

Agreed, unless we are blown away by an offer or him requesting a trade, I don’t see the point of moving him
 
My only problem with moving Love this year is...say we DO land a franchise cornerstone a la Zion or Barrett and say Sexton DOES pan out after a year of NBA experience under his belt, and we're one legit all-star caliber player away from making some serious noise...

Love's contract looks bad right now because we're bottom-of-the-barrel, but having him locked up for 4 years might suddenly look like a coup if a couple things go our way.

No young team is ready to make noise after a year or 2. It takes 4 or 5 unless you’re the thunder and can get 3 generational players.
 
No young team is ready to make noise after a year or 2. It takes 4 or 5 unless you’re the thunder and can get 3 generational players.
It's a stretch, but no reason, with the right coach and a couple lucky breaks (landing Zion, Sexton's work paying off) that Love couldn't fill the Horford role on a young Boston team that took the Cavs to the brink in the ECF.
 
It's a stretch, but no reason, with the right coach and a couple lucky breaks (landing Zion, Sexton's work paying off) that Love couldn't fill the Horford role on a young Boston team that took the Cavs to the brink in the ECF.

Also after next season, we should have a ton of cap space even with Love. Hopefully Koby will gain some more assets at the deadline this year and set us up for the flexibility to go after an all-star free agent if one comes available next season.

Getting Love on the extension actually gave us flexibility because we aren't under the gun to trade him this season. It has it's risks but he should be an asset or piece for our team going forward.
 
Last edited:
No young team is ready to make noise after a year or 2. It takes 4 or 5 unless you’re the thunder and can get 3 generational players.

The Lakers literally never had to do a full-fledged rebuild in franchise history until the last few years; they had 5 total lottery appearances before Kobe got old.

Yes, they have been able to build through FA in a way few other franchises can, but I have to think some of their teams were on the young side.
 
The problem going forward with Love is not skill, ability or approach to the game; it is that he is fundamentally an UNRELIABLE player. What has changed since he was signed to the new extension? He has AGAIN sustained a significant in-season injury.

Bringing back a somewhat lower skill veteran player who brings leadership and greater reliability, together with draft assets/developmental players with upside will benefit the franchise more long-term than retaining Love. It will also bring the short-term benefit of helping to ensure the best (highest) 2019 draft position.

I feel like I was making these same posts the last time the Cavs were in this post-James position with the skilled but unreliable Anderson Verajao. Get him back out there for a few games in January, then TRADE HIM BEFORE HE GETS HURT AGAIN!

Be my hero Altman. Make it happen.
 
It's a stretch, but no reason, with the right coach and a couple lucky breaks (landing Zion, Sexton's work paying off) that Love couldn't fill the Horford role on a young Boston team that took the Cavs to the brink in the ECF.

Love is no where near the defender al is. Al might not be the offensive player is but he can make a better impact on the game without touching the ball then love.
 
Are you serious? Love completely dominated Horford in the 2017 playoffs:

https://www.basketball-reference.co...n-conference-finals-cavaliers-vs-celtics.html

It was his best series performance as a Cav in the playoffs other than possibly the 2016 Hawks one when everyone was on fire.

He said love could fill the horford role. Which was defense passing and team play. Defense isn’t loves game. So he can’t play the horford role. I didn’t say al was better than love. But that’s besides the point love isn’t the same player. He can’t move.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top