Houston Rockets Will Continue Pursuit Of Kevin Love
By Marcus Bass
General Manager Daryl Morey will not waver in the Houston Rockets’ pursuit of a third superstar to team with James Harden and Dwight Howard. Although they’ve been rumored to be clearing cap space for Carmelo Anthony, the Rockets’ No. 1 target is still Kevin Love.
Love has stated he’d prefer the Golden State Warriors to Rockets, due to the feeling that he’d fit in better with the Warriors roster. However players play, coaches coach and general managers – manage. The Rockets have managed to piece together a better opportunity for Kevin Love. Whether he recognizes that or not, it won’t persuade Morey to relieve his interest in the All-Star power forward.
Why should Morey? Love is a great fit for the Rockets. He’s a more natural option than Carmelo Anthony, and let’s be real – the Rockets have no more shot at luring King James than the Cleveland Cavaliers do.
In fact, the Rockets probably have a better chance at netting their third star via trade than they would in free agency. On one hand they’ll have to do some convincing to get an Anthony or Chris Bosh (for example) to head to Texas. For a superstar, moving to a smaller-market team really hurts their personal stock. That’ll be an uphill battle for the Rockets, and it’s one they won’t have to fight – should they simply trade for Love.
So that leaves the Rockets with potentially the best big man duo in the NBA since David Robinson and Tim Duncan patrolled the paint together. He’s the perfect stretch 4 that would fit in well with a ball-dominant guard like James Harden. He’s also a big guy that can roam the perimeter, creating interior space for center Dwight Howard. Love not only fits in well with the Rockets, he helps to expose some of their core strengths.
He’s also an excellent offensive rebounding force. Love has a career average of four offensive rebounds a game, and with the bulk of Harden’s shots coming from the interior paint or behind the 3-point line, Love will have an offensive rebounding buffet.
Another area for improvement the Rockets will need is behind the 3-point line. Although they led the league in attempts, they shot an abysmal 36 percent from 3 (15th–best in the league). Love’s career percentage isn’t much better (36.2 percent), however the potential in getting open shots from pick and pop situations with Harden and Howard’s ability to draw the double team will push the team’s percentage into the 40s quickly on the heels of Love draining open 3 bombs.
Trading for Love could be very complicated. The Rockets aren’t loaded with a wealth of attractive draft picks, and although they can offer a pair of first-rounders, it’s probable that they won’t be high picks due to the Rockets’ success. Another factor is the fact that the Wolves already own two players very similar to the Rockets’ most moveable pieces. The only upside Jeremy Lin has over Ricky Rubio is his shooting touch. Neither player can play the small guard, and with the Wolves backed up with Kevin Martin and Alexey Shved, they don’t need another 2 guard regardless.
Wolves center Nikola Pekovic and Rockets big man Omer Asik are virtually the same player. Neither is very effective away from the basket, as neither have the ability to hit the perimeter jumper consistently. With Asik voicing his displeasure in performing as second fiddle to Howard, it’s almost a certainty he’ll never agree to play behind Pekovic.
Any move will have to include Chandler Parsons, whom the Rockets are planning to grant early restricted free agency. Out of a potential offer of Parsons, Lin and Asik, Parsons fits in better as the starting small forward, which will leave the Wolves with the option to move reserve forwards Corey Brewer or Chase Budinger. It’s a small price to pay for Love’s services.
The Rockets need Love. He’s the player that will push them over the top and into contention for a championship. Should they decide to pull the trigger and convince Minnesota to take their offer, both teams benefit. Finally the Rockets will have the big three they’ve been trying so desperately to achieve.