At this point a trade seems far-fetched. Love’s trade value is nil. He can talk all he wants about playing for the Portland Trail Blazers — a terrible thing to say publicly. The Blazers have been an ideal fit for years. But what’s the workable deal that makes it reality? The Cavs told Love on a few occasions the best route out of Cleveland was to play better, that he was responsible for resuscitating that dying value. Instead, he’s looked miserable, moped from time to time, created headaches and hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
NBA Rumor: Kevin Love to Blazers?
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Dwight Jaynes: Don’t know how many times I need to say this but a Kevin Love trade was not in the cards because HE DOESN’T WANT TO PLAY IN PORTLAND!!!! That is from multiple sources. And at that contract price, dealing for him would be stupid.
With the Blazers (16-23) sliding so far in the standings, it’s hard to envision them making that kind of move at the moment. What’s more, there is serious skepticism from key people close to the Blazers that Love will ever find his way to his home region team in the Northwest.
Kevin Love will be one of the biggest names available. He’s been linked to the Portland Trail Blazers (10-16) for years—in part because he played at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. “Sometimes the obvious happens,” a former Western Conference executive said. “Something like [Hassan] Whiteside, Mario Hezonja, [Anfernee] Simons, Gary Trent and a first. You have to give something to get something.”
Sunday, of course, is the first day players who were acquired in the offseason are eligible to be traded, even though Neil Olshey, the team’s top executive, said this week there is nothing brewing. That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from heating up, which has included one report saying Kevin Love would prefer a trade to Portland. That rumor apparently reached the eyes and ears of Whiteside, who during Tuesday’s game against New York was shouting during play to Anthony that “Kevin Love doesn’t rebound like that!” “And Kevin Love doesn’t block shots like that, either,” Whiteside said Thursday when asked about the Tuesday exchange. “The trade talk … it don’t enter my mind a lot. I was more just messing with Melo. I’m not thinking about it. If we are struggling on defense and you want to (trade him), I mean, good luck. Good luck with that.”
Love has been mentioned frequently, but is a question mark. There was a report that Portland is his favored destination, but I have not been able to substantiate that and, in fact, have been told by people close to him that the report is not necessarily true. And the other concern with Love – who is obviously a terrific player with championship pedigree – are his injuries. Over his last three seasons, he has played 60, 59, and 22 games. At an average salary of $30.1 million over the next three seasons, his availability is a concern.
His journey to the Trail Blazers was less complicated. Portland had a clear need for a four-man, and many rival executives believed the organization would target Oklahoma City’s Danilo Gallinari or Cleveland’s Kevin Love in a trade after the loss of Collins. But as the losses piled up, and its franchise star Damian Lillard clearly needed more support, Portland needed to acquire someone immediately. The Trail Blazers made the call to Anthony and his representative, and one question remained within Anthony: Is this real — or a waste of time?
June 23, 2021 | 8:34 pm EDT Update
Marc J. Spears: Kawhi Leonard, Right Knee Sprain, listed out for Game 3 by Clippers.
Sarah K. Spencer: Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee soreness) is available.
June 23, 2021 | 7:44 pm EDT Update
Erik Spoelstra to join USA Select Team coaching staff
Erik Spoelstra and Gregg Popovich have often spoken of how much they enjoy coaching against one another. This summer, they’re teaming up — to coach with, and against, one another.
Spoelstra has accepted an invitation to join the USA Basketball coaching staff for its Olympic preparations in Las Vegas next month. The Miami Heat coach, who went head-to-head against Popovich and San Antonio in the 2013 and 2014 NBA Finals, will be involved coaching the U.S. select team — a group of players that will be brought in to practice and scrimmage against the Olympic roster.
“I really just want to be a part of the program,” Spoelstra said. “I’m always pushing myself to get better in the offseasons; I go visit people and all that stuff. This is going to be a basketball immersion. I mean, the dinners, the team meetings … for where I am right now in my career, I think this is the perfect thing for a summer of development.”
