According to multiple reports over the last several weeks, Kevin Love may be traded this coming season. Could a major blockbuster deal involving the five-time All-Star be on the horizon? Here’s why the Houston Rockets should consider pursuing him.
Over the past decade, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has changed the way many front offices access players, as the man who made a name for himself through the use of analytics has incorporated it to acquire critical pieces and stars who have recently helped lead the organization back into the national forefront.
In an offseason that marked the five-year commemoration of acquiring James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 46-year-old executive helped Houston construct one of its finest summers ever two years ago, locking up the face of the franchise to one of the richest contract extensions in league history and signing forward P.J. Tucker at the onset of free agency.
However, that’s not all the Rockets did.
Just three days before coming to terms on a four-year, $32 million deal with Tucker, Houston surprisingly granted Harden with a supplementary aid in the backcourt by landing nine-time All-Star Chris Paul in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Alongside the Beard, CP3 would nearly lead Clutch City to the 2018 NBA Finals.
Now, Houston is currently in the midst of working its way back from a slow start, as the squad that won a franchise-best 65 games a year ago does not appear to be fully content with its current roster in a rough and rugged Western Conference.
According to multiple reports over the several weeks, the Rockets have been in nonstop talks with multiple teams, declaring themselves as buyers prior to next month’s trade deadline. Following their pursuit of Jimmy Butler in mid-November, Houston is currently seeking to reopen discussions with the Atlanta Hawks for a possible deal involving shooting guard Kent Bazemore, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
However, there is one particular player whose name has not been directly linked to the Rockets, and could fit the general description that Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni are desperately searching for before yet another deep playoff run.
His name? Kevin Love.
The 30-year-old power forward — who signed a four-year, $120 million extension to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers this past summer — is regarded as one of the most reliable stretch-bigs in all of basketball when healthy, shooting at a 37 percent mark from downtown in his 11-year career.
Love could reportedly be dealt away by the wine and gold for the “right price” after Jan. 24, per Marc Stein of the New York Times.
"“You’re dealing with a very small, narrow marketplace for him,” an anonymous executive said to Bleacher Report’s Ken Berger when asked about Love’s current market value. “It’s going to have to be a playoff team in a non-destination market.“A team that has a couple of stars that isn’t going to get anybody in free agency because they don’t have the room or nobody’s going to play there.”"
This is news that should sound ideal for a franchise like Houston, as one could argue that Love’s new extension, in conjunction with the Rockets’ window to compete, aligns perfectly.
Although Love’s latest contract, injury history and defensive woes might scare most teams away from pursuing him in today’s era of position-less basketball, the five-time All-Star’s skill-set could prove to be a very helpful asset to the Rockets late in the season.
With the Rockets being an organization that has never been known not to take a risk when the opportunity arises, Uncle Wes’ ability to hit shots in catch-and-shoot instances and score in a variety of ways might help propel Love back into a beneficial role within D’Antoni’s pace-and-space offense.
"“They have their dive guy in [Clint] Capela,” an anonymous Western Conference executive said to Berger when discussing the current state of the Rockets. “And they’re really missing a lot of perimeter shooting right now.”"
They could also use some help in the rebounding department, where Houston currently ranks 26th among all teams through the midway point of the season. Love would not just grant the Rockets floor-spacing, but also one of the league’s most elite chairman of the boards.
All the while, Houston would land a player that has more than his fair share of experiences dealing with a rival that he and Houston vehemently share. A potential deal involving the following players may be enough to help the Rockets add the missing piece to their championship puzzle:
With Love officially on board, Houston would feature one of the most formidable quadruplet tandems in the game alongside Paul, Harden and Clint Capela, providing the Rockets with a quality third option and ancillary facilitator on offense.
In addition to granting the Cavaliers with the chance to finally part ways with one of the last players still remaining from the LeBron James era, Houston would seek to yield a few rebuild pieces in return.
Brandon Knight is a serviceable point guard whose contract comes off the books in 2020. Marquese Chriss is a young, flawed player heading for free agency this summer. Carmelo Anthony wouldn’t have a future in the Land beyond this season, but pocketing a future first round pick for the injured Love would be a solid pickup.
Houston might have to throw in an additional future first-rounder to compete with other offers around the league, but if the pick offered is unprotected, that might not have to be the case.
"“You have a rookie GM [Koby Altman] — who’s a really good guy and has done some really good things and is trying to prove himself,” another Western Conference executive said per Berger when accessing the state of the Cavaliers front office. “And you’ve got a delusional owner in [Dan Gilbert].”“And they’re going to think they’re supposed to get something for the guy. You’re not getting an asset for him under any circumstances.”"
Whether it cost one or two future first round picks, trading for Kevin Love would allow Clutch City the opportunity to pounce on a blockbuster midseason trade for the first time in 25 years. Love may be all the Rockets need to help them get over the hump in 2019.