I would agree if Hood didn’t just re up with Portland and is now slated to start at SF for the Blazers next season. They also agreed to terms with FA Mario Hezonja who also plays the 3.
With the addition of Whiteside, they now have protection for Jurcik’s injury and when he comes back, an abundance of quality Centers (5’s) in Whiteside/Jurcik/Zach Collins.
Kevin Love would be the perfect piece for this Blazer’s team at the 4. With the recent additions, he would not be required to play in the post nor defend there. He would play his most effective and natural stretch 4 position and be the perfect compliment in Portland’s front court to the players I just mentioned manning the 5..... with young Skai Labbiesere backing Love up at the 4.
Obviously you are titled to your opinion, but I couldn’t disagree more when comparing which player would be more valuable to this existing Blazers squad between Bazemore and Love.
The only way possible for someone to argue Kent Bazemore being even close to a more valuable piece with the Blazers lineup would be if your gonna assume Bazemore starts at SF (3), which is not a sure fire thing with Hood re upping.
Bazemore is only 6’5. Granted he has a 7’0 wingspan, but he’s always been considered more of a SG than a SF. At the 3, a spot he can no doubt play and guard in spurts, Bazemore stands to be muscled around and abused physically by the stronger more physically developed players who have true small forward size.
Bazemore was brought on via trade for 3 main reasons. To bring on better shooting then the abysmal Evan Turner did, to keep a trade chip in tow with his almost 20 million expiring deal contract, and as an insurance policy in case Rodney Hood bolted via free agency.
Hood didn’t bolt, he stayed on, and at 6’7 has better and more prototypical size to man the 3 for the Blazers, and in particular the Blazers. With Lillard and McCollum pairing at the 1 and 2 amd being undersized collectively, having an ideal sized 3 is much more important as a fit with Portland than other places because of this.
But even as the starting SF, Bazemore still doesn’t bring the shooting acumen to this team Kevin Love does. Bazemore shot .402 from the field last year, and just 32% from 3 last season for the Hawks. In Love’s last full season spanning 58 games in ‘17, he shot .458% from the field, and a blistering .415% from 3.
So when comparing but in terms of value to the Blazers, inserting Rodney Hood as the starting SF makes sense both from a player and size standpoint, as well as a trade off without dropping off with Bazemore.
Adding Kevin Love automatically inserts him as the starting 4 the instant he’s acquired, with no one replaceable at the 4 to Love as Hood is to Bazemore at the 3.
So how can you argue a backup SG in Bazemore, who shoots a lower percentage than the 6’10 Love does at a starting front court position (4) brings more value to the Blazers!??
Makes zero sense.
Love not only brings a sure fire starter as the perfect front court component, he brings elite shooting from the position as well.
He’s an All Star who is not only accustomed to playing 3rd wheel with 2 other superstars, he would also be coming home to Portland.... all reasons adding up to it making just a ton of sense.
Since the Blazers did also just sign SF Mario Hezonga to a deal who plays SF and would backup the recently signed Hood.....the Blazers don’t have immediate room or need for the rookie Little.
The Blazers would need to send at least approximately 23,154,264 million back to Cle in salary to accommodate the 125% or 1.25 rate factor necessary when matching up $ with Kevin Love’s $28,942,830 ‘19-20 salary.
Bazemore stands to make $19,269,662 this upcoming season, Nassir Littles cap hold is 2.1 million, which combined at $21,369,662, still leaves the Blazers $1,788,602 short of where they need to be.
So if the Cavs asked for Gary Trent Jr ( $1,446,697) in return along with the other two, the two sides would still be $338,901 apart from what would be needed...brutally close but short.
I think the ideal starting point along with Bazemore and Little would be Collins, who will make $4,240,200. These 3 combined work monetarily.
If I’m the Cavs, I’m demanding one of these two proposals for Love, and both work.
Love for Bazemore/Little/Simons
Or
Love for Bazemore/Little/Collins
Portland’s starting 5 would vault them right up to the top of Western Comference contention.
