Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

[Derek]

I'd like to see someone compare those numbers to how each guy measured at the combine.

Kevin Love was 6'7.75" barefoot and 6'9.5" in shoes at the combine.

Pretty standard for shoes to add 1.5-2"

These new listed heights will take some getting used to. For example, 6'9" is no longer short for a center. 6'4" isn't short for an off-guard. Our brains will need to adjust.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Kevin Love was 6'7.75" barefoot and 6'9.5" in shoes ta the combine.

Pretty standard for shoes to add 1.5-2"

These new listed heights will take some getting used to. For example, 6'9" is no longer short for a center. 6'4" isn't short for an off-guard. Our brains will need to adjust.

Makes a lot more sense to measure guys that way because it removes the variable of shoes with different heights, or dudes wearing shoes higher than they'd normally wear just to increase their listed height.

 

[Cavatt]

Kevin Love was 6'7.75" barefoot and 6'9.5" in shoes at the combine.

Pretty standard for shoes to add 1.5-2"

These new listed heights will take some getting used to. For example, 6'9" is no longer short for a center. 6'4" isn't short for an off-guard. Our brains will need to adjust.

The cutoff for "wing" is going to be the weirdest. Is 6'4" big enough for SF?

 

[MrX]

21 13 9

 

[pinoycavsfan]

Ever since love came to cleveland everyone was clamoring for his elbow touches to maximize his passing. It's just one game and I dont know how many touches he had on the elbows but the coaching staff really used his passing game to perfection. The love-tt elbow pnr was unstoppable, albiet, for this game.

 

[Derek]

Loved PnR sets they ran with Love as a ball handler

 

[Randolphkeys]

Beilein's system is built around the power forward being highly skilled on offense. He put Moe Wagner, Glen Robinson, and Mitch McGary near the top of the draft among power forwards, and featured Brazdeikis enough to get him drafted in the second round last year. I think the Love and Beilein pairing is going to be beneficial to everyone, but especially those young guards who are figuring out how to run the offense efficiently. I'd rather keep Love and market TT/Clarkson at the deadline.

 

[cavsfever]

I think everyone would be good with not just marketing Clarkson but if we can't find a trade just loading him into a rocket and firing him into space.

Trading KLove is an interesting issue, it really depends if we want to aggressively tank or we want to develop talent. If we want to do the latter then keeping him is definitely better unless someone blows us away with a deadline offer. The payoff to aggressive tanking is significantly less than it used to be given the new draft rules (thanks Sixers!).

There may actually be a little of the same dynamic around TT, not that he helps integrate an offense like KLove can do, but for all his issues he is a positive and contributing player on this team and a veteran presence. Certainly if you want to teach people to pass to rolling bigs he's good to have on the court.

 

[Randolphkeys]

The payoff to aggressive tanking is significantly less than it used to be given the new draft rules (thanks Sixers!).

Can't agree with this more. The Sixers left a lot of promising prospects in a professional tailspin after being drafted high and then asked to play huge minutes on bad team uninterested in winning. Sure at the end of The Process they had some good pieces, but don't turn a blind eye to the players they had during the tanking: Dedmon, Thad Young, Jerami Grant, Robert Covington, Ish Smith, Glenn Robinson, Nerlens Noel, and so many others - who found their psyches destroyed until they latched onto teams that were actively trying to win. That is the real hidden victim of tanking and the enemy Commissioner Silver is trying to battle: moderate talent doesn't develop when a team is tanking for special, elite talent in the top three of the draft.

 

[CavsFanJapan]

I think everyone would be good with not just marketing Clarkson but if we can't find a trade just loading him into a rocket and firing him into space.

Trading KLove is an interesting issue, it really depends if we want to aggressively tank or we want to develop talent. If we want to do the latter then keeping him is definitely better unless someone blows us away with a deadline offer. The payoff to aggressive tanking is significantly less than it used to be given the new draft rules (thanks Sixers!).

There may actually be a little of the same dynamic around TT, not that he helps integrate an offense like KLove can do, but for all his issues he is a positive and contributing player on this team and a veteran presence. Certainly if you want to teach people to pass to rolling bigs he's good to have on the court.

In the post game presser, Beilein stated something about KLove and TT that goes unnoticed about coming out of timeouts and drawing up plays how these two will discuss the little things about the situation that can’t be discussed during the timeout. TT saying how he’ll slip a screen, etc. These can’t be taught by a team too young and with mediocre vets. The value of these two are not appreciated as much as they should be. At the NBA level, everyone is good just not all are smart. KLove and TT are good leaders and I am very happy they are here.

 

[Tonedef75]

I’ve been here for years, but rarely posted much until recently and don’t believe I’ve ever weighed in on the trade Kevin Love debate. Unless someone offers a ridiculous trade that can’t be refused, I personally, would love to see him retire as a Cav so his jersey can be one of those that is hanging in the rafters. The guy was a significant part of the only Cavalier championship in the team’s existence, and when not injured always contributes in some facet of the game, and those facets should continue even as he continues to age.

He’s a great passer, which usually ages well as a baller advances in age. He’s not someone who relies on athleticism, but rather strength and positioning, so he should still have quite a few years left as a great rebounder. In addition, he’s a good jump shooter so even his shooting will have value for years. Lastly, the guy seems to genuinely enjoy playing for the Land. After LeBron left, he could have gone anywhere, but instead chose to re-up. There were a lot of nicer cities with better weather that would have paid him what Dan did and yet he chose to stay. The guy is a Hall of Famer after he retires. Nothing like having another Cavalier in the HOF.

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I think everyone would be good with not just marketing Clarkson but if we can't find a trade just loading him into a rocket and firing him into space.

Trading KLove is an interesting issue, it really depends if we want to aggressively tank or we want to develop talent. If we want to do the latter then keeping him is definitely better unless someone blows us away with a deadline offer. The payoff to aggressive tanking is significantly less than it used to be given the new draft rules (thanks Sixers!).

There may actually be a little of the same dynamic around TT, not that he helps integrate an offense like KLove can do, but for all his issues he is a positive and contributing player on this team and a veteran presence. Certainly if you want to teach people to pass to rolling bigs he's good to have on the court.

My stance on Love is I don't trade him unless he wants to be traded. When healthy he is a huge asset. He's been a great teammate and the consummate professional. He was the first one that all the media thought would bail and he is the one who has wanted to stay. Granted if someone comes knocking with an insane offer, I listen. But I think if Love wants to stay, he stays.

If Tristan keeps playing like this, he will have massive value at the deadline. At the same time, he's not an old man, but if he suddenly becomes a 15+ppg and 12rpg guy, he'll get paid in a poor free agent market. I also wonder about the future at C. How does Zizic look under Beilein when he returns? Can Nance start at C? Who will backup Love and spell him? Can Tyler Cook or Dean Wade develop into a rotational guy at the 4? Wade's collegiate play indicates that he may be able to transition into a stretch 4 role over time.

But so much of what Beilein does is built around what the frontcourt can bring to the table. What player and draft assets could we get back that would allow us to grow on that front?

 

[Sebastian]

Makes a lot more sense to measure guys that way because it removes the variable of shoes with different heights, or dudes wearing shoes higher than they'd normally wear just to increase their listed height.

I volunteer to get some accurate, objective measurements from the man.

 

[seohioguy]

I'm definitely in favor of keeping Love and probably Thompson around. I agree that full blown tanking rarely works any better.

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I’ve been here for years, but rarely posted much until recently and don’t believe I’ve ever weighed in on the trade Kevin Love debate. Unless someone offers a ridiculous trade that can’t be refused, I personally, would love to see him retire as a Cav so his jersey can be one of those that is hanging in the rafters. The guy was a significant part of the only Cavalier championship in the team’s existence, and when not injured always contributes in some facet of the game, and those facets should continue even as he continues to age.

He’s a great passer, which usually ages well as a baller advances in age. He’s not someone who relies on athleticism, but rather strength and positioning, so he should still have quite a few years left as a great rebounder. In addition, he’s a good jump shooter so even his shooting will have value for years. Lastly, the guy seems to genuinely enjoy playing for the Land. After LeBron left, he could have gone anywhere, but instead chose to re-up. There were a lot of nicer cities with better weather that would have paid him what Dan did and yet he chose to stay. The guy is a Hall of Famer after he retires. Nothing like having another Cavalier in the HOF.

Regardless of whether he stays or goes, I think Love will have his jersey in the rafters. LeBron, Kyrie, Love, and Tristan all will have them. Not sure if anyone beyond them will from the Championship era, but I expect those four to be hanging there after they've retired.

That said, I'm all for keeping Love as long as he wants to stay. If the season goes really bad and he asks to be traded to a playoff team, I do it because he has been such a pro. Though I think if Love and TT stay healthy that the season will not be as bad as some predict, especially if the continue to play vastly improved defense. I will be very interested to see how the D performs tonight.