Thoughts on Kevin Love in the pros?

[Doctor MJ]

Lovin him as a Bruin fan. What do y'all experts think?

[moocow007]

I think his lack of footspeed and overall athleticism will hurt him. How much depends on how well he can make everything else he brings to the table work and how hard he plays. I think Love is one of the most technically sound players in college and seems to have both a great understanding of the game as well as a fighters spirit. I think he can definitely be an player in the NBA but especially with the athletic beasts in the NBA nowadays (compared to say 15-20 years ago) that he's not going to be a star. To which, it will be very interesting to see how someone who probably has always been used to being one of the best if not the best player on the court adjusts to no longer being that. And adjusting to the NBA (and even to college) is the biggest hurdle for someone who is not going to be able to simply outrun and outjump his opponent. What people usually like to do is to try to compare Love to someone that is playing or has played in the NBA but I think he may be somewhat unique in that respect. He's not Chris Webber (as some have compared him to) if for no other reason that he doesn't come close to Webbers size and athleticism. He may be closer to a Brad Miller though Miller is both taller and slightly quicker than Love.

[FNQ]

Get the kid a trainer... and he's money.

I'd take him in the lottery this year.

[Canomad]

if could shed 20 pounds and tone up a little he will be a very good pro.

[suckfish]

Similar views to what Moocow has. His post seems pretty spot IMO.

I love him as a player, his awesome technical skills and fundamentals are great to see, it's quite refreshing. His lack of athletic ability in my eyes will probably prevent him from becoming a star player. He doesn't have great size, so he cannot make up for his lack of athletics in that way, so I really think this limits him to being just a solid player.

He's certainly a unique talent, and I think he will have a solid NBA future assuming he stays healthy.

[UGA Hayes]

Watching Glen "Big Baby" Davis this year has made me much more optimistic about Love's chances, assuming he reshapes his body the way Davis did. Offensive rebounders don't grow on trees and I expect a guy who is good enough to do it at UCLA will be able to do it in the pros.

[hard49]

Watching Glen "Big Baby" Davis this year has made me much more optimistic about Love's chances, assuming he reshapes his body the way Davis did. Offensive rebounders don't grow on trees and I expect a guy who is good enough to do it at UCLA will be able to do it in the pros.

Bingo!

He will make it as a very good rotation player. A role like McDyess had on Detroit. Quality 3rd big on a high level team. Capable starter.

[revprodeji]

An interesting thing could be the 6'10 talk. If he is a legit 6'10 maybe he could project as a 5 not a 4, which would help him. He would need to muscle the 5's but I think he has a better chance at that then getting the foot speed for the 4's. If anything, if he can get next to a 4 that scores he could be a good player at the 5.

of course, that is assuming he is 6'10 and not 6'9 or 6'8

[Village Idiot]

In my opinion he's like Zach Randolph with a brain and a heart. In other words, he should be just fine if you can live with a player with obvious limitations.

[Jerryd Bayless]

A better David Lee with an inside game.

[horaceworthy]

If he loses weight, tones up the body and manages to get more a little more athletic when he does so, things could be interesting.

[randomhero423]

a poor man's brad miller.

[TMACFORMVP]

I wanted to start a similar thread (or exactly the same one haha), because I saw his stock around 15-22 and thought he'd be a potential player the Rockets would be interested in.

Seems like he's a good rebounder and passer from the high post; all signs pointing to him being a good fit in an Adelman system right?

[randomhero423]

he can also shoot the rock a lil bit as well.

[Jemini80]

if he gets in great shape, he could be a poor man's boozer.

That is assuming when he gets in better shape his quickness and athleticism increase as well.

He will be the SOD if he goes outside of the top 10.

[Doctor MJ]

a poor man's brad miller.

Y'know Love's arguably better now as a freshman than Miller was as a senior right?

[DanTown8587]

The thing is, Love is not 6-10, probably more 6-8. With that said, if the guy stayed two more years at UCLA, he could develop a better outside shot (a must for him) and get a better basketball IQ, and finally tone that muscle. If he comes out now, its a mistake. He reminds me a lot of Elton Brand with a better outside game, not quite the inside game. Wide body, can feel real well and is a good offensive player. I think Love stays at least one more year because he won't get that lottery guarantee and doesn't need the money.

[Jemini80]

i saw UCLA's coach on Jim Rome is Burning a couple of weeks ago and he said he highly doubts Love will be back next year...

[$*DIPSET BOI*$]

A better David Lee with an inside game.

Not as atheletic but I can see him taking the same role as Lee. My comparison would be Sean May, and his career could end up the same if he doesn't watch his weight. Didn't he have some knee problems in the past and had to have surgery? I would take him as a mid-first, any GM taking him over Blake Griffin is a fool.

[hermes]

he could be very good
lose some weight
even better