NBA Draft: Re-drafting the 2008 NBA Draft’s first round
By Zach Wilson
#2 Pick – Miami Heat: Kevin Love (Originally: Michael Beasley)
The decision of whether to choose an injury-riddled former MVP or a guy who has been solidified as an All-Star and decently durable throughout his career was a difficult one.
At the end of the day, if I was drafting a team, I would take a guy with the career of Kevin Love over Derrick Rose.
Love started his career with some astonishing seasons statistically with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Love had multiple seasons averaging 20 points per game and at his peak averaged 15.2 rebounds per game in the 2010-2011 season.
Love’s career took a massive turn in the summer of 2014 when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins. LeBron James and David Griffin pooled their minds together and decided a solidified All-Star was better than the potential of Wiggins. They were correct.
Wiggins has been underwhelming in his career while Love has maintained a reputation of a very solid player. His statistics took a dip after the move out east, but that was due to the role change of being the No. 1 guy to the third option behind LeBron and Kyrie Irving.
He is extremely overlooked, but Love played a huge role in the Cavaliers’ first-ever championship back in 2016.
At the end of the day, I couldn’t punish a guy for his willingness to sacrifice personal statistics for the opportunity at a championship. Kevin Love remains in Cleveland, but there has been much talk surrounding his security there. His contract makes him an unappealing trade target, but Love the player is still effective.